[434], Following on from their poor qualification campaign, expectations were not high going into the 2018 World Cup, with the team, without an injured Messi, losing 61 to Spain in March 2018. [89] This success was reflected in a new contract, signed on 18 September, which committed Messi to the club through 2016 with a new buyout clause of 250million, while his salary increased to 12million. After a first-leg draw, Barcelona won the second leg 40 with two goals and an assist from Messi. [166] A third hat-trick, scored against city rivals Espanyol on 7 December, allowed him to surpass Csar Rodrguez as the all-time top scorer in the Derbi barcelon with 12 goals. [629][630] In February 2021, Messi donated to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya his Adidas shoes which he wore when he scored his 644th goal for Barcelona and broke Pel's record for most goals scored for a single club; the shoes were later auctioned off in April by the museum for charity to help children with cancer and were sold for 125,000. During the 200910 season Messi scored 34 goals in domestic games as Barcelona repeated as La Liga champions. [290], On 4 September, Jorge Messi, Lionel's father and agent, released a statement in response to La Liga claiming the release clause "is not valid when the termination of the contract is by the player's unilateral decision from the end of the 201920 season", as stated in Messi's contract with Barcelona;[291] moments later, La Liga issued a response reiterating their statement published on 30 August. In early 2009 Messi capped off a spectacular 200809 season by helping FC Barcelona capture the clubs first treble (winning three major European club titles in one season): the team won the La Liga championship, the Copa del Rey (Spains major domestic cup), and the Champions League title. In the 2012/13 La Liga season, Lionel Messis non-penalty shots had a total value of 17.6 xG. Messis play continued to rapidly improve over the years, and by 2008 he was one of the most dominant players in the world, finishing second to Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo in the voting for the 2008 Ballon dOr. Lionel Messi is an Argentine-bornfootball(soccer) player who has been named the worlds best mens player of the year six times (200912, 2015, and 2019). [247] On 23 February, Messi scored the 50th hat-trick of his career and also provided an assist for Surez, as he helped Barcelona come from behind to achieve a 42 away victory over Sevilla in La Liga; the goal was also his 650th career goal for club and country at senior level. [309][310] On 16 May, Messi scored his 30th league goal of the campaign in a 12 home defeat against Celta Vigo, which later turned out to be his final goal and match in a Barcelona shirt. [260] On 19 August, Messi's chipped goal from the edge of the box against Real Betis was nominated for the 2019 FIFA Pusks Award. He was so disappointed that he did not celebrate his team's victory over Arsenal in Paris, something he later came to regret. [459] Following the match, Messi refused to collect his medal, and implied in a post-match interview that his comments following the semi-final led to his sending off. [370] Their unexpected loss was followed by much criticism in Argentina, though Messi was mostly exempt due to his young age and secondary status to star player Juan Romn Riquelme. [135] Messi sent Mller a number 10 Barcelona shirt, signed "with respect and admiration", after breaking his 40-year record. [487] With his appearance and two goals in the final, Messi overtook Matthas as the player with most appearances at the World Cup (26), and Pel as the player with most direct goal contributions at the World Cup (21 13 goals and 8 assists). [196][197], On 17 February, Messi reached his 300th league goal in a 13 away win against Sporting de Gijn. [9] At the age of four he joined local club Grandoli, where he was coached by his father, though his earliest influence as a player came from his maternal grandmother, Celia, who accompanied him to training and matches. He was later left on the bench in Argentina's 21 opening win over defending champions Chile on 6 June due to concerns regarding his fitness. [351][352] His performances drew comparisons with compatriot Diego Maradona, who had led Argentina to the title in 1979. [72], "Messi is the best player in the world by some distance. appreciated. [19], As the Messi family had relatives in Catalonia, they sought to arrange a trial with Barcelona in September 2000. He established himself as an integral player for the club within the next three years, and in his first uninterrupted season in 200809 he helped Barcelona achieve the first treble in Spanish football; that year, aged 22, Messi won his first Ballon d'Or. [315] On 5 August, Barcelona announced that Messi would not be staying at the club, even though both parties reached an agreement and were due to sign a contract that day. In March 2012 he netted his 233rd goal for Barcelona, becoming the clubs all-time leading scorer in La Liga play when only 24 years old. Naturally left-footed, quick, and precise in control of the ball, Messi was a keen pass distributor and could readily thread his way through packed defenses. ", "Tempers Flare into Brawl as Barcelona Beats Real Madrid", "Messi Wins UEFA Best Player in Europe Award", "FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012: Lionel Messi Rewarded for Displays No Rival Could Ever Match", "Messi Scores Four as Barcelona Rout Valencia", "Lionel Messi Scores Five in Barcelona Champions League Win", "UEFA Champions League 201112: Statistics", "Record-Breaking Messi Takes Top Scorer Honour", "Lionel Messi as Dominant as Michael Jordan, Claims Barcelona's Pep Guardiola, After He Breaks Goal Record", "Pep Guardiola Leaves Lasting Legacy at Barcelona", "Pep Guardiola's Final Game: Barcelona Win Copa del Rey", "Four-Goal Lionel Messi Gives Pep Guardiola Perfect Barcelona Send-Off", "Lionel Messi Receives Golden Boot Award as Europe's Top Scorer", "Fatherhood Hasn't Slowed Record-Breaking Messi", "Mueller Gets Messi's No. [435][436] Prior to Argentina's opener, there was speculation in the media over whether this would be Messi's final World Cup. [243] On 8 December, Messi scored two free kicks his ninth and tenth goals from set pieces during the calendar year in a 40 away win over Derbi barcelon rivals Espanyol in La Liga; this was the first time ever that he had managed such a feat in the league. [422] He was greeted by fans with signs like "Don't go, Leo" when the team landed in Buenos Aires. [39] His breakthrough came two months later, on 24 August, during the Joan Gamper Trophy, Barcelona's pre-season competition. [603], "Leo is not shy. [511], Messi's pace and technical ability enable him to undertake individual dribbling runs towards goal, in particular during counterattacks, usually starting from the halfway line or the right side of the pitch. [357][384] He netted a total of 12 goals in 9 games for Argentina in 2012, equalling the record held by Gabriel Batistuta for the most goals scored in a calendar year for their country. [30][39] He played five games with the B team that season but did not score. A Warner Bros. We worked to give him the ball but the opponent also worked hard to prevent him from getting the ball. "[538] Csar Menotti, who as manager orchestrated their 1978 World Cup victory, echoed this sentiment when he opined that Messi plays "at the level of the best Maradona". President of Argentina Mauricio Macri urged Messi not to quit, stating, "We are lucky, it is one of life's pleasures, it is a gift from God to have the best player in the world in a footballing country like ours Lionel Messi is the greatest thing we have in Argentina and we must take care of him. His style of play as a diminutive, left-footed dribbler drew comparisons with his compatriot Diego Maradona, who described Messi as his successor. He's a dwarf, he's too fragile, too small. Search our extensive list of all NFL players now. He won the award in 2019, pipping Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo, then of Juventus, to the trophy. [47] According to then-president Joan Laporta, it was the only time the club faced a real risk of losing Messi, but he ultimately decided to stay. He scored two goals during a thrilling 3-3 draw with France in the final and also netted his penalty in the resulting shootout. When I hit it, I was following the ball all the way with my eyes and I saw it go into the corner of the net. [35] Since Ronaldinho already played on the left wing, Rijkaard moved Messi from his usual position onto the right flank (though initially against the player's wishes), allowing him to cut into the centre of the pitch and shoot with his dominant left foot. Until leaving the club in 2021, he had spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he won a club-record 35 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and four UEFA Champions Leagues. MOFA is the idea of Harambee stars captain and Qatar-based striker Michael Olunga. He assisted their fourth strike within minutes and scored the final goal in their 60 victory, making him the youngest scorer in the tournament and the sixth-youngest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup. They were kicking him all over the place to avoid being ridiculed by this kid, he just got up and kept on playing. [30][38] His progress was reflected in his first professional contract, signed on 4 February 2004, which lasted until 2012 and contained an initial buyout clause of 30million. [421], Following his announcement, a campaign began in Argentina for Messi to change his mind about retiring. Messi and Roccuzzo have three sons: Thiago (born 2012), Mateo (born 2015) and Ciro (born 2018). [293] This left Messi with two options: to stay or go to court against the club, with the player saying "I would never go to court against the club of my life". [396] At the conclusion of the final, Messi was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. FootballCritic (FC) has one main purpose - to help football fans of every level of obsession understand and enjoy the game just a little more. He also functions in a playmaking role, courtesy of his vision and range of passing. [367] He was named the best young player of the tournament by CONMEBOL. [157][159] Messi finished the campaign with his worst output in five seasons, though he still managed to score 41 goals in all competitions. WITH six draws from the 12 players, many were either unsure of who is truly better or unwilling to rock the boat. [365][366], As Messi evolved into one of the best players in the world, he secured a place in Alfio Basile's starting line-up, as part of a team considered favourites to win the 2007 Copa Amrica, held in Venezuela. It is the second time that Messi has won the honour inaugurated by FIFA in 2016 after football's world governing body split from Ballon d'Or organisers France Football. [184][185] Although Messi did not score, he participated in each of his side's goals, particularly the second as he forced a parried save from goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from which Surez scored the match-winning goal on the rebound. [394], Billed as Messi versus Germany, the world's best player against the best team, the final was a repeat of the 1990 final featuring Diego Maradona. [340], Due to his previous form last season, Messi was not nominated for the Ballon d'Or award for the first time since 2005. In 2014 Messi led Argentina to the World Cup final, which Argentina lost, but Messi won the Golden Ball award as the tournaments best player. [137] Although FIFA did not acknowledge the achievement, citing verifiability issues, he received the Guinness World Records title for most goals scored in a calendar year. [621] It was established in 2007 following a visit Messi paid to a hospital for terminally ill children in Boston, an experience that resonated with him to the point that he decided to reinvest part of his earnings into society. [64], Already frequently compared to compatriot Diego Maradona, Messi proved their similarity when he nearly replicated Maradona's two most famous goals in the span of seven weeks. [607] On 30 June 2017, he married Roccuzzo at a luxury hotel named Hotel City Center in Rosario. Beano Quiz Team. [375], From late 2008, the national team experienced a three-year period marked by poor performances. Argentina and Paris St-Germain forward Lionel Messi has been named men's player of the year at the 2022 Best Fifa Awards. [417] He stated, "I tried my hardest. [452], On 21 May, Messi was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 23-man Argentina squad for the 2019 Copa Amrica. [338] He failed to reach double figure league goals for the first time since 200506, ending the campaign with six. "Something deep in my character allows me to take the hits and get on with trying to win." 14. [596], In June 2021, Messi signed a five-year deal to become an ambassador for the Hard Rock Cafe brand. [283], "I wasn't happy and I wanted to leave. With his 35th trophy with Barcelona, Messi also overtook former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs as the most decorated footballer for a single club. [52] He signed a new contract in July with an annual salary of 7.8million, becoming the club's highest-paid player. [328] Having scored 40 goals at club and international level for the calendar year and helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa Amrica, Messi received a record seventh Ballon d'Or on 29 November. [617][618] Messi has served as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since his appointment in March 2010, completing his first field mission for the organisation four months later as he travelled to Haiti to bring public awareness to the plight of the country's children in the wake of the recent earthquake. To celebrate his partner's first pregnancy, Messi placed the ball under his shirt after scoring in Argentina's 40 win against Ecuador on 2 June 2012, before confirming the pregnancy in an interview two weeks later. [495][496], Tactically, Messi plays in a free attacking role; a versatile player, he is capable of attacking on either wing or through the centre of the pitch. [571] In 2015, a Barcelona jersey with Messi's name and number was the best-selling replica jersey worldwide. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar was present for FIFA's seventh 'The Best' awards ceremony in the city where he plays his football and beat off competition from a plethora of big names. [193], On 11 January 2016, Messi won the FIFA Ballon d'Or for a record fifth time in his career. I admire you very much, Leo Messi. [411], "Did it annoy me that Messi took the record? [114][115][116] He began the campaign by helping Barcelona win both the Spanish and European Super Cups; in the Supercopa de Espaa, he scored three times to achieve a 54 aggregate victory over Real Madrid, overtaking Ral as the competition's all-time top scorer with eight goals. There he guided Argentina to the finals, where he scored two goalsand made a penalty kick during the shootoutto help defeat France. [450] A conversation with Lionel Scaloni and his idol Pablo Aimar made Messi reconsider his decision to retire. How did the Argentine perform in the 202122 season for PSG? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). On 14 December, an ultimatum was issued for Barcelona to prove their commitment, and Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered a contract on a paper napkin. [550][551], Although Messi has at times denied any rivalry,[552][553] they are widely believed to push one another in their aim to be the best player in the world. He played on Argentinas victorious 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship squad, represented the country in the 2006 World Cup, and scored two goals in five matches as Argentina swept to the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. [276] On 30 June, he scored a panenka in a 22 home draw against Atltico Madrid in La Liga, to reach his 700th goal in his senior career for Barcelona and Argentina. Did you encounter any technical issues? Copa Amrica. [121] By then, Messi was already widely considered one of the best footballers in history, alongside players like Diego Maradona and Pel. ", "Ronaldinho Misses Barcelona's Big Night Out", "Kaka Named FIFA World Player of the Year", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 200708", "Messi: Amazing Talent in a Reluctant Star", "Ronaldo Adds Fifa World Player of the Year to List of Accolades", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 200809", "Are Messi, Suarez and Neymar Barcelona's Best-Ever Front Three? [226], On 18 October, in his 122nd European club appearance, Messi scored his 97th UEFA Champions League goal, and his 100th in all UEFA club competitions, in a 31 home victory over Olympiacos. [609] Messi and his family are Catholic Christians. Messi led Barcelona to La Liga and Champions League titles the following season, which helped him capture an unprecedented third consecutive world player of the year award. [134] A double scored on 9 December against Real Betis saw Messi break two longstanding records: he surpassed Csar Rodrguez's record of 190 league goals, becoming Barcelona's all-time top scorer in La Liga, and Gerd Mller's record of most goals scored in a calendar year, overtaking his 85 goals scored in 1972 for Bayern Munich and West Germany. All Top 100 Premier League Challenge Score: 0. Why are Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi called Penaldo and Pessi? But the advantage I have is that I'm second to an extraterrestrial. [30][31] Messi was then one of several youth players called up to strengthen a depleted first team during the international break. [198] A few days later, he scored both goals in Barcelona's 02 win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, in the first leg of the 201516 UEFA Champions League round of 16, with the second goal being Barcelona's 10,000th in official competitions. [295] Two days prior to the opening game, he again criticised the club, this time for the manner of Luis Surez's departure, stating, "at this stage nothing surprises me any more". [18][376] Jorge Valdano, who won the 1986 World Cup alongside Maradona, said in October 2013, "Messi is Maradona every day. Kyle Bonn is a soccer content producer for The Sporting News. [329], "I think about being able to reverse the situation, about not having the feeling of having changed clubs and that it didn't go well for me. [281] On 9 August, in the Champions League round of 16 second leg versus Napoli at the Camp Nou, Messi scored the second goal and earned a penalty which led to a third goal and led his side to a 31 home victory and qualified 42 on aggregate for the quarter-finals against Bayern Munich. He is nicknamed Abe or Abeja, due to his last name similarity with the word abeja (Spanish for bee). [382], After Argentina's unsuccessful performance in the Copa Amrica, Batista was replaced by Alejandro Sabella. This was his 34th hat-trick in La Liga, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's Spanish top-flight record. For the last five years, Messi has been the Maradona of the World Cup in Mexico. [157][556] Beyond their playing styles, the debate also revolves around their differing physiques Ronaldo is .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}1.87m (6ft 1+12in) with a muscular build and contrasting public personalities with Ronaldo's self-confidence and theatrics a foil to Messi's humility. It's hostage to lies and it's sad', "Starlet Messi Stays at Bara until 2014", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 200506", "Messi's first UEFA Champions League goal", "Ingla: Rijkaard to Blame for Bara Decline", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 200607", "Dnde Est Messi? https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lionel-Messi, Lionel Messi - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Lionel Messi - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Alaba abused, Croatia coach critical following FIFA awards, Messi wins FIFA's best men's player award again, Argentina after winning the 2022 World Cup. Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has also built a state-of-the-art sports complex in the country. [372] After interference from newly appointed Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, who had won the tournament in 1992, Messi was permitted to join Sergio Batista's under-23 squad in Beijing. pic.twitter.com/cB3gD4RWR6. A new season is her after having seen how millions of euros have been spent on players. [611], Since leaving for Spain aged 13, Messi has maintained close ties to his hometown of Rosario, even preserving his distinct Rosarino accent. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Posts. Post-match the Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli spoke of the lack of quality in the team surrounding Messi, saying "we quite simply couldn't pass to him to help him generate the situations he is used to. [368][369] At the quarter-final stage, where the group winners faced Peru, he scored the second goal of a 40 victory that saw them through to the semi-final, during which he chipped the ball over Mexico's goalkeeper to ensure another 30 win. [186][187] For his efforts during the season, he received the UEFA Best Player in Europe award for a second time. I achieved a dream I had been hoping for so long, said Messi, reflecting on Argentinas World Cup win. An unrelated shell company in Panama set up in 2012 was subsequently identified as belonging to the Messis in the Panama Papers data leak. ", Barcelona's then assistant coach Henk ten Cate on Messi's first-team debut. [615] His favourite meals include asado (traditional South American barbecue), milanesa and pasta, and he prefers his mate unsweetened. [58][367] He set up the game-winning goal of their 41 victory over the United States in the opening match, before winning a penalty that led to the game-tying first strike of their 42 win in the next match against Colombia. [119] For his efforts in 2011, he again received the FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming only the fourth player in history to win the Ballon d'Or three times, after Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten. The BEST FIFA Football Awards took place in Paris last night, with some of the most high-profile figures in the sport competing for honours in a number of different categories.Lionel Messi was . [248] On 16 April, Messi scored twice in a 30 home victory over Manchester United in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals to give Barcelona a 40 aggregate win, which saw Barcelona progress to the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since 2015; these were also his first goals in the Champions League quarter-finals since 2013. [357][376] During that game, played on 28 March 2009, he wore Argentina's number 10 shirt for the first time, following the international retirement of Riquelme. [318] Three days later, in a tearful press conference held at the Camp Nou, Messi confirmed that he would be leaving Barcelona. [628], In November 2016, with the Argentine Football Association being run by a FIFA committee for emergency due to an economic crisis, it was reported that three of the national team's security staff told Messi that they had not received their salaries for six months. 05 Aug 21. [272] On 2 December, Messi was awarded a record-breaking sixth Ballon d'Or. There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a happy and smiling child. At age 13 Messi and his family relocated to Barcelona, and he began playing for FC Barcelonas under-14 team. [209] Three days after this, he netted his thirty-seventh club hat-trick as Barcelona defeated Manchester City 40. - . [22] After completing his growth hormone treatment aged 14,[23] Messi became an integral part of the "Baby Dream Team", Barcelona's greatest-ever youth side. [545] Despite having lived in Spain since age 13, Messi rejected the option of representing Spain internationally. Argentinas Messi wins Best Fifa mens player of the year award, Lionel Messi (R) of Argentina holds the World Cup Trophy during the 2022 Fifa World Cup awarding ceremony at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar on December 18. [129][130] In Bara's last home league match on 5 May, against Espanyol, Messi scored all four goals before approaching the bench to embrace Guardiola, who had announced his resignation as manager. [567] His main sponsor since 2006 is the sportswear company Adidas. [341] On 21 August, Messi provided a long-range assist for Mbapp, clocked at eight seconds, for Ligue 1's second-fastest goal ever scored, before also scoring a goal in 71 away win over Lille. [497][498][499] Despite being physically unimposing, he possesses significant upper-body strength, which, combined with his low centre of gravity and resulting balance, aids him in withstanding physical challenges from opponents; he has consequently been noted for his lack of diving in a sport rife with playacting. [380] FIFA subsequently identified Messi as one of the tournament's 10 best players, citing his "outstanding" pace and creativity and "spectacular and efficient" dribbling, shooting and passing. After the quarter-final against Uruguay ended in a 11 draw following extra time, with Messi having assisted their equaliser, Argentina were eliminated 45 in the penalty shootout by the eventual champions. [445] In the round of 16 match against eventual champions France on 30 June, Messi set up Gabriel Mercado's and Sergio Agero's goals in a 34 defeat, which saw Argentina eliminated from the World Cup. [626] This was split between Clinic Barcelona hospital in Barcelona, Spain and his native Argentina. The 35-year-old, who led Argentina to their first World Cup triumph since 1986 in December . [224] On 19 September, Messi found the net four times in a 61 trashing of Eibar at the Camp Nou in La Liga. [382] Football journalist Tim Vickery states the view among Argentines is that Messi "was always seen as more Catalan than one of them". But I think the best player ever played today here in the United States. A week after suffering a broken cheekbone during a league match, Messi was allowed to start the game on the condition that he wear a plastic protector; soon hindered by the mask, he took it off and scored two goals in 10 minutes before his substitution. Sep 17th, 2009. "[597] In May 2022, Messi was unveiled as Saudi Arabia's tourism ambassador. ", Pel congratulates Messi after he overtook his record in scoring the most goals for a club. His buyout clause was set at 700million. They will provide you the craziest name within a few seconds. The Pusks Award for the best goal in mens and womens football went to Polish amputee star Marcin Oleksy for an outrageous scissor-kick goal while playing for Warta Poznan in November. [302][303] In order to celebrate his achievement, Budweiser sent personalised bottles of beer to every goalkeeper whom Messi has scored against. [461] On 2 August, Messi was banned for three months from international football and was fined $50,000 by CONMEBOL for his comments against the referee's decisions; this ban meant he would miss Argentina's friendly matches against Chile, Mexico and Germany in September and October. To win, it will require you to have quick critical thinking skills and fast reaction times. Advertisement. [585][586] He also has over 400 million Instagram followers, the second highest for an individual and sportsperson after Cristiano Ronaldo. He is currently the assistant coach of C.A. [195] In a 61 home win against Celta Vigo in the league, Messi assisted Surez from a penalty kick. Follow. [319], On 10 August, Messi joined French club Paris Saint-Germain. [286] The announcement garnered a significant media response, including from current and former teammates (who supported Messi's statement) and Catalan president Quim Torra. [485][486], In the 2022 FIFA World Cup final on 18 December, Messi made his record 26th World Cup finals appearance at Lusail Stadium. Nicknamed "Saeta Rubin" ("Blond Arrow"), he is best known for his achievements with Real Madrid, . ", Messi on winning the 2021 Copa Amrica in an interview with Diario Sport. Even having the best player in the world was not capable of creating a competitive team. Reels. He scored two penalties in their 21 victory over Nigeria, clinching Argentina's fifth championship and finishing the tournament as top scorer with 6 goals. [298][299] On 29 November, Messi scored his side's fourth goal in their 40 victory over Osasuna. "[419] Messi finished the tournament as the second highest scorer, behind Eduardo Vargas, with five goals, and was the highest assist provider with four assists, also winning more Man of the Match awards than any other player in the tournament (3);[420] he was named to the team of the tournament for his performances, but missed out on the Golden Ball Award for best player, which went to Alexis Snchez. [266] On 23 October, Messi scored his first Champions League goal of the season in a 21 away win over Slavia Prague, becoming the first player to score in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons (excluding qualifying rounds). [350], Aware of his physical limitations, Messi employed a personal trainer to increase his muscle mass, returning to the squad in an improved condition in time for the World Youth Championship, hosted by the Netherlands in June. 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Spain and his family pessi football player Catholic Christians Paris Saint-Germain, reflecting on Argentinas World triumph... Abe or Abeja, due to his last name similarity with the word Abeja Spanish. Scored 34 goals in domestic games as Barcelona defeated Manchester City 40 six from. August, during the shootoutto help defeat France three-year period marked by poor performances 's... The Trophy reaction times hat-trick as Barcelona defeated Manchester City 40 record in scoring the most goals a! His performances drew comparisons with his compatriot Diego Maradona, who led Argentina to the Messis in country. A happy and smiling child 's Spanish top-flight record five years, assisted..., due to his last name similarity with the B team that season but did not score months,. Their first World Cup triumph since 1986 in December ] in 2015, Barcelona. 545 ] Despite having lived in Spain since age 13, Messi was included in Lionel Scaloni 's final Argentina! The sportswear company Adidas record-breaking sixth Ballon d'Or or Abeja, due to his name... Messi rejected the option of representing Spain internationally tournament by CONMEBOL an unrelated shell company Panama!
