The iconic Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, often revered as the ‘greatest footballer of all time’, celebrates his 37th birthday on Monday. Born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1987, Messi recently clinched his eighth Ballon d’Or, setting a new benchmark. The closest contender to this feat is the Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won five Ballon d’Or awards. At just 13, Messi and his family moved to Barcelona, where the club supported his treatment for growth hormone deficiency. He began his journey with FC Barcelona’s U14 squad, swiftly ascending the ranks and leaving a lasting impression with his extraordinary talent and skills.
Messi made his senior club debut at 17 against Espanyol, quickly becoming a crucial player for the Blaugranas (FC Barcelona). At that time, he was the youngest player to participate in the competition for the team.
During his 17-year tenure with the Spanish club, Messi won an impressive 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions League trophies, and 7 Copa del Rey medals. With 474 goals in La Liga, he stands as the league’s all-time top scorer.
One of Messi’s most unforgettable moments came in 2007 when he replicated Diego Maradona’s ‘Goal of the Century’. During a Copa del Rey semifinal against Getafe at Camp Nou, Messi dribbled past six defenders to score a stunning goal.
In 2009, Messi won his first UEFA Champions League title as Barcelona triumphed over Manchester United with a 2-0 victory. Messi scored one of the goals with a remarkable header.
In 2020, Messi scored his 644th goal for Barcelona in a 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid, breaking the record for the most goals scored for a single club. The previous record was held by the Brazilian legend Pele, who scored 643 goals for Santos FC.
Messi moved to the French Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, where he played until 2023. During his time there, he scored 22 goals in 58 appearances.
In 2023, Messi joined Inter Miami, owned by David Beckham. So far, he has scored 13 goals in 18 matches for the team.
Messi’s first international appearance for Argentina came in August 2005 in a match against Hungary. Unfortunately, his debut was cut short when he was sent off just minutes after coming on due to a foul on Vilmos Vanczak.
In 2008, Messi played a pivotal role in leading Argentina to an Olympic gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. His assist in the final helped secure a 1-0 victory over Nigeria, marking Argentina’s second consecutive Olympic gold.
In 2021, Argentina, led by Messi, won the Copa America by defeating Brazil 1-0 at the Maracana Stadium. This victory ended Messi’s long wait for a major international title.
The pinnacle of Messi’s career came in 2022 when he led Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In the final against France, Messi scored twice, and Argentina won the championship after a 36-year gap through a penalty shootout.
As Messi turns 37, his legacy as a football legend is firmly cemented, marked by a series of unparalleled achievements and unforgettable moments on the pitch.
