Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains both Barcelona and the Argentina national team.
“Barcelona is my life. They have brought me to where I am today. I could not leave, I don’t want to leave. I know the Premier League is very good. But I cannot see myself playing in England because my heart is with Barcelona, always.”
– Lionel Messi
Messi’s goalscoring record
By any standards, Messi’s goal scoring record is exceptional. By February 2013, he has scored 301 goals in 365 official matches for Barcelona FC.
In 2012/13, Messi set an all-time world record of scoring in 21 consecutive games (33 goals from 21 games)
He holds the Guinness World Record for most goals in a calendar year – 86 goals during 2012.
He is the only player to score in four consecutive Champions League campaigns.
As of February 2014, Messi has scored 343 club goals out of 434 appearances (including Barcelona B team)
His international record for Argentina is 37 goals from 83 appearances.
Barcelona
Spanish La Liga title(8) : 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16
Spanish Cup (2)– Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12; Runner-up 2010–11
Supercopa de España (6): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013; Runner-up 2012
UEFA Champions League (4) : 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014-15
UEFA Super Cup (*2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011
Argentina
Olympic Gold Medal: 2008
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
2006 World Cup – QF
2010 World Cup – QF
2014 World Cup – Runners-up.
Stats
Full name Lionel Andrés Messi
Date of birth 24 June 1987 (1987-06-24)
Place of birth Rosario, Argentina
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing Position: Forward
Total club appearances 684. Total Goals 578 (Dec. 2018)
Total international appearances 151. Total Goals 81 (Dec. 2018)
La Liga titles with Barcelona (9)
UEFA Champions League (4) 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
FIFA Ballon d’Or/Ballon d’Or (5)
Guinness World Record as top goalscorer for club and country in a calendar year: 91 goals in 2012
Messi’s goalscoring record
By any standards, Messi’s goal scoring record is exceptional. By February 2013, he has scored 301 goals in 365 official matches for Barcelona FC.
In 2012/13, Messi set an all-time world record of scoring in 21 consecutive games (33 goals from 21 games)
He holds the Guinness World Record for most goals in a calendar year – 86 goals during 2012.
He is the only player to score in four consecutive Champions League campaigns.
As of February 2014, Messi has scored 343 club goals out of 434 appearances (including Barcelona B team)
His international record for Argentina is 37 goals from 83 appearances.
Wealth and income
Messi has frequently been the target of other football clubs with big transfer budgets, but he has remained loyal to Barcelona FC. He is one of the highest paid footballers in the world. His base salary is estimated at €16 million net a year, until 2018. His net wealth is estimated at €110m.
Private life
By the standards of modern football, Messi has a relatively private and modest lifestyle. He makes efforts to keep links to his hometown of Rosario. He has an Argentinian girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo, and they have one child Thiago, born in November 2012.
