Lionel Messi, widely hailed as one of the greatest footballers of all time, continues to be a fascinating figure both on and off the field. As of 2023, He played for FC Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain and currently playing for Inter Miami CF and the Argentina national team.
He has won the FIFA World Player of the Year award 7 times. He won the award for the first time in 2009 and then consecutively from 2010 to 2012. He won it again in 2015, 2019, and 2021.
Messi’s life and career have seen remarkable twists and turns which we will look into in intricate detail in this Lionel Messi biography 2023.
Lionel Messi Biography 2023:
The Early Years
This is a very crucial part of Lionel Messi biography 2023.
Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini was born in Rosario, Argentina on June 24, 1987. His father was a factory steel worker, and his mother was a cleaner. His family’s modest background did not deter young Messi from pursuing his passion for football.
At the age of just seven, he joined the local club Newell’s Old Boys, where his prodigious talent quickly became apparent.
However, at the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), a stunted growth condition that required expensive medical treatment, including the use of the drug Human growth hormone.
Messi was given a trial with Barcelona and impressed the coach who was instrumental in the team offering Messi a contract that was literally written on a paper napkin which included paying for Messi’s treatment in Spain.
This was after his local club, River Plate showed interest in signing Messi but didn’t want to pay for his medical treatment.
Messi moved to Barcelona with his father and became part of the FC Barcelona youth academy.
Messi had his first appearance in the 2004/05 season making him the youngest player to score a goal in the league.
In 2006, Messi was instrumental in making the team win both La Liga (Spanish League) and Champions League.
The next season, Messi was the first-choice striker and an important part of the Barcelona team at the age of 20 scoring 14 goals in 26 league games.
As the seasons have progressed, Messi kept improving and breaking his own records. In the calendar year of 2012, he broke the all-time world record for most goals scored in a calendar year.
His final total of goals in 2012 was 91 – beating the previous record of 85 by German Gerd Muller, and Pele’s milestone of 75 in 1958.
At the end of 2012, he signed a contract with Barcelona until the end of 2018 after turning down a mouth-watering offer to play for an unnamed Russian side.
Rise to Stardom and International Recognition
Another vital part of Lionel Messi biography 2023 is his encounter with the Barcelona senior team.
Messi’s transition to the senior squad at Barcelona was nothing short of meteoric. after he made his official debut for the first team, Messi quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with.
His dazzling dribbling skills, incredible vision, and uncanny ability to score goals made him a fan favorite.
During his tenure at Barcelona, Messi enjoyed an unparalleled era of success, winning numerous La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles. He also secured multiple Ballon d’Or awards, solidifying his status as the world’s best player.
He led Argentina to victory in the 2005 FIFA Youth Championship. Messi made his full international debut in August 2005, during a friendly against Hungary.
In 2006, he participated in the World Cup, becoming Argentina’s youngest player to play in the World Cup. Argentina was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
In 2008, he won an Olympic gold medal for Argentina in football at the Beijing Olympics.
In the 2010 World Cup, Messi wore the number 10 shirt for the first time in the Argentina team and was instrumental in the team reaching the quarter-finals, they were later knocked out by Germany in a 4-0 loss.
Transfer to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
In August 2021, Messi’s 20-year-long association with Barcelona came to an abrupt end due to financial constraints faced by the club.
Despite initial speculation about a potential move to Manchester City or other European giants, Messi ultimately signed with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). This transfer marked a significant shift in his career and sent shockwaves throughout the footballing world.
Lionel Messi’s Net Worth in 2023
As of Lionel Messi biography 2023, Lionel Messi’s net worth is estimated to be over $400 million. This figure encompasses various income streams, including his salary, endorsements, and business ventures.
He is one of the highest-paid footballers in the world. His base salary is estimated at €40 million per year. His combined income in 2018 from all sources was €126m. This made him the highest-paid sports star – according to Forbes.
1. Salary
From 2018, his weekly salary from Barcelona was $667,000 per week. Messi’s move to PSG came with a lucrative contract, reported to be worth around €35 million per year after taxes and an estimate of $54 million annually, amounting to a weekly wage of around $1.2 million in inter Miami cf.
2. Endorsements
Messi’s marketability extends far beyond the football pitch. He has endorsed numerous brands. These partnerships have contributed significantly to his net worth, with endorsement deals reportedly earning him over $30 million annually. Here are a few of these brands:
Adidas
Lionel Messi first joined forces with Adidas began back in 2006.
In February 2017, this relationship turned into a lifelong commitment when Messi signed a lifetime deal with the brand. the deal is worth £18 million annually.
Ooredoo
Messi has been associated with Qatar-based International Telecommunications company, Ooredoo, since 2013.
Lay’s
In 2014, PepsiCo’s chip brand, Lay’s, launched a major global integrated marketing campaign featuring Lionel Messi.
Gatorade
Pepsico’s sports-themed beverage, Gatorade, is a brand partner of Lionel Messi.
Pepsi
Since 2013, Messi has been an ambassador for the American beverage giant.
Jacob & Co.
Leading watchmaker, Jacob & Co., signed Lionel Messi as a brand ambassador in January 2019.
Budweiser
In September 2020, global brewing giant Anheuser-Busch struck a partnership deal with Lionel Messi for its beer brand, Budweiser.
Hard Rock International
The Davie, Florida-headquartered global theme restaurants chain signed Messi as a worldwide brand ambassador in June 2021 on a five-year deal.
SikSilk
The Scarborough-based fashion brand announced a collaboration with Messi in November 2021, launching The Messi x SikSilk collection.
Socios.com
Messi signed a three-year deal with cryptocurrency-based fan engagement platform Socios.com which is powered by Gzira, Malta-based blockchain fintech provider Chiliz, in March 2022. The US$20m deal made Messi the first-ever Global Brand Ambassador of Socios.com.
Having kicked off with the ‘Be More’ campaign the Socios.com-Messi partnership entails collaboration over both educational and promotional campaigns.
Mengniu
In 2018, Messi was signed as the brand ambassador of China’s leading dairy product brand, Mengniu. Messi has been largely involved in the brand’s “Born for Greatness” proposition.
Louis Vuitton
In November 2022, on the eve of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, French luxury house Louis Vuitton posted a photo across its social media platforms featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the two coming together for a rare joint paid collaboration.
Ethernity
Messi first partnered with NFT marketplace Ethernity in August 2021 to create “The Messiverse”, which was aimed at showcasing his career and achievements.
In November 2022, ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Ethernity announced another Messi-focused NFT experience that would showcase the Argentine’s performances at the World Cups over the years.
Sorare
A blockchain-based digital collectibles and fantasy football platform developed by Saint-Mandé, Paris-headquartered French company SORARE SAS.
It was announced in November 2022 that Messi had been signed by Sorare as an investor and a brand ambassador.
3. Business Ventures
In recent years, Messi has ventured into business ownership, including investments in hospitality and fashion.
He launched his clothing brand, “The Messi Store,” in collaboration with Ginny Hilfiger, and it has gained traction among his fans.
Personal Life
Beyond his career, Messi’s personal life has also garnered significant attention. In 2017, he married his longtime partner, Antonela Roccuzzo, in a lavish ceremony in his hometown of Rosario.
The couple has three children, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, making Messi’s life more than just football.
Achievements
We will be talking about his achievements in this part of Lionel Messi biography 2023.
Throughout his illustrious career, Messi has accumulated an impressive list of accolades, including:
- Seven Ballon d’Or awards, highlighting his status as one of the greatest footballers in history.
- Numerous UEFA Champions League titles and La Liga championships with FC Barcelona.
- An Olympic gold medal with the Argentine national team in 2008.
- Becoming Argentina’s all-time leading goal scorer, surpassing Gabriel Batistuta’s record.
Barcelona
- Spanish La Liga title(*10) : 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19
- Spanish Cup (*7) – Copa del Rey
- Supercopa de España (*6)
- UEFA Champions League (*4) : 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014-15
- UEFA Super Cup (*3)
- FIFA Club World Cup (*3)
Argentina
- Olympic Gold Medal: 2008
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
- 2006 World Cup – QF
- 2010 World Cup – QF
- 2014 World Cup – Runners-up.
- 2018 World Cup – QF
- 2022 World Cup – Winners
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 888. Total Goals 721 (2023)
- Total international appearances 176. Total Goals 81 (2023)
- Titles with Barcelona (10)
- Titles with PSG (3)
- Titles with Inter Miami CF (1)
- UEFA Champions League (4) 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
- FIFA Ballon d’Or/Ballon d’Or (7)
- Guinness World Record as top goalscorer for club and country in a calendar year: 91 goals in 2012
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