Lionel Messi(梅西英文版介绍)

Lionel Messi

“Messi”redirects here.For the biopic,see Messi(?lm). Lionel Andrés"Leo"Messi(Spanish pronunciation: [ljo?nel an?d?es?mesi];born24June1987)is an Ar-gentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Barcelona and is the captain of the Argentina national team.Often considered the best player in the world and rated by many in the sport as the greatest of all time,Messi is the only football player in history to win?ve FIFA Ballons d'Or,four of which he won consecutively,and the?rst player to win three European Golden Shoes.[note2]With Barcelona he has won eight La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles,as well as four Copas del Rey.A proli?c goalscorer,Messi holds the records for most goals scored in La Liga,a La Liga season(50),a calendar year(91), a single season(73),a Champions League match(?ve), and most Champions League seasons(?ve).

Born and raised in central Argentina,Messi was diag-nosed with a growth hormone de?ciency as a child.At age 13,he relocated to Spain to join Barcelona,who agreed to pay for his medical treatment.After a fast progres-sion through Barcelona’s youth academy,Messi made his competitive debut aged17in October2004.Despite be-ing injury-prone during his early career,he established himself as an integral player for the club within the next three years,?nishing2007as a?nalist for both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award,a feat he repeated the following year.His?rst uninterrupted campaign came in the2008–09season,during which he helped Barcelona achieve the?rst treble in Spanish foot-ball.At22years old,Messi won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award by record voting margins.

Three successful seasons followed,with Messi winning three consecutive FIFA Ballons d'Or,including an un-precedented fourth.His personal best campaign to date was the2011–12season,in which he set the La Liga and European records for most goals scored in a sin-gle season,while establishing himself as Barcelona’s all-time top scorer in o?cial competitions in March2012. He again struggled with injury during the following two seasons,twice?nishing second for the Ballon d'Or be-hind Cristiano Ronaldo,his perceived career rival.Messi regained his best form during the2014–15campaign, breaking the all-time goalscoring records in both La Liga and the Champions League in November2014,and led Barcelona to a historic second treble.

As an Argentine international,Messi has represented his country in six major tournaments.At youth level,he won the2005FIFA World Youth Championship,?nish-ing the tournament as its best player and top scorer,and an Olympic gold medal at the2008Summer Olympics. His style of play as a diminutive,left-footed dribbler drew comparisons with compatriot Diego Maradona,who de-clared the teenager his successor.After making his se-nior debut in August2005,Messi became the youngest Argentine to play and score in a FIFA World Cup dur-ing the2006edition,and reached the?nal of the2007 Copa América,where he was named young player of the tournament.As the squad’s captain since August2011, he led Argentina to the?nals of the2014World Cup and the2015Copa América,and both times was selected as player of the tournament.

1Early life

Lionel Andrés Messi was born on24June1987in Rosario,Santa Fe,the third of four children of Jorge Messi,a steel factory manager,and his wife Celia Cuc-cittini,who worked in a magnet manufacturing work-shop.On his father’s side,he is of Italian and Spanish heritage,the great-grandson of immigrants from Marche and Catalonia,and on his mother’s side,he is of primar-ily Italian descent.[2]Growing up in a tight-knit,football-loving family,“Leo”developed a passion for the sport from an early age,playing constantly with his older broth-ers,Rodrigo and Matías,and his cousins,Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi,both of whom became profes-sional footballers.[6]At the age of four years,he joined local club Grandoli,where he was coached by his father, though his earliest in?uence as a player came from his maternal grandmother,Celia,who accompanied him to training and matches.[7]He was greatly a?ected by her death,shortly before his eleventh birthday;since then,as a devout Catholic,he has celebrated his goals by looking up and pointing to the sky in tribute of his grandmother.[8][9]“When you saw him you would think:this kid can't play ball.He’s a dwarf,he’s too fragile,too small.But im-mediately you'd realise that he was born di?erent,that he was a phenomenon and that he was going to be some-thing impressive.”

—Newell’s Old Boys youth coach Adrián Coria shares his ?rst impression of the12-year-old Messi.[10]

A lifelong supporter of Newell’s Old Boys,Messi joined 1

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the Rosario club when he was six years old.Dur-ing the six years he played for Newell’s,he scored al-most 500goals as a member of “The Machine of '87”,the near-unbeatable youth side named for the year of their birth,and regularly entertained crowds by per-forming ball tricks during half-time of the ?rst team’s home games.[11][12]However,his future as a professional player was threatened when,at age 10,he was diag-nosed with a growth hormone de?ciency .As his father’s health insurance covered only two years of growth hor-mone treatment ,which cost at least $1000per month,Newell’s agreed to contribute,but later reneged on their promise.[13]He was scouted by Buenos Aires club River Plate ,whose playmaker ,Pablo Aimar ,he idolised,but they were also unable to pay for his treatment due to the country’s economic collapse .

[14][15]

Messi enrolled at Barcelona’s youth academy,La Masia ,at age 13.

As the Messi family had relatives in Catalonia,they sought to arrange a trial with Barcelona in September 2000.First team director Charly Rexach immediately wanted to sign him,but the board of directors hesi-tated;at the time it was highly unusual for European clubs to sign foreign players of such a young age.On 14December,an ultimatum was issued for Barcelona to prove their commitment,and Rexach,with no other pa-per at hand,o?ered a contract on a paper napkin.[14][16]In February 2001,the family relocated to Barcelona,where they moved into an apartment nearby the club’s sta-dium,Camp Nou .During his ?rst year in Spain,Messi rarely played with the Infantiles due to a transfer con?ict with Newell’s;as a foreigner,he could only be ?elded in friendlies and the Catalan league.Without football,he struggled to integrate into the team;already reserved by nature,he was so quiet that his teammates initially be-lieved he was mute.At home,he su?ered from home-sickness after his mother moved back to Rosario with his

brothers and little sister,María Sol,while he stayed in Barcelona with his father.[11][16][17]

After a year at Barcelona’s youth academy,La Masia ,Messi was ?nally enrolled in the Royal Spanish Football Federation in February 2002.Now playing in all compe-titions,he befriended his teammates,among whom were Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué.[18]After completing his growth hormone treatment aged 14,[19]Messi became an integral part of the “Baby Dream Team”,Barcelona’s greatest-ever youth side.During his ?rst full season,in 2002–03,he was top scorer with 36goals in 30games for the Cadetes A,who won an unprecedented treble of the league and both the Spanish and Catalan cups.[18][20]The Copa Catalunya ?nal,a 4–1victory over Espanyol ,became known in club lore as the partido de la máscara ,the ?nal of the mask.A week after su?ering 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 o?and scored two goals in 10minutes before his substitution.[21]At the close of the season,he received an o?er to join Arsenal ,his ?rst from a foreign club,but while Fàbregas and Piquésoon left for England,he chose to remain in Barcelona.[16][22][23]

2Barcelona

2.12003–05:Rise to the ?rst team

“It seemed as if he had been playing with us all his life.”—Barcelona’s then assistant coach Henk Ten Cate on Messi’s ?rst-team debut.[24]

During the 2003–04season,his fourth with Barcelona,Messi rapidly progressed through the club’s ranks,debut-ing for a record ?ve teams in a single campaign.After being named player of the tournament in four interna-tional pre-season competitions with the Juveniles B,he played only one o?cial match with the team before be-ing promoted to the Juveniles A,where he scored 18goals in 11league games.[25][26]Messi was then one of several youth players called up to strengthen a depleted ?rst team during the international break.At 16years,four months,and 23days old,he made his ?rst team debut when he came on in the 75th minute during a friendly against JoséMourinho 's Porto on 16November 2003.[16][27]His per-formance,creating two chances and a shot on goal,im-pressed the technical sta?,and he subsequently began training daily with the club’s reserve side,Barcelona B ,as well as weekly with the ?rst team.[28]After his ?rst training session with the senior squad,Bar?a’s new star player,Ronaldinho ,told his teammates that he believed the 16-year-old would become an even better player than himself.[29]Ronaldinho soon befriended Messi,whom he called “little brother,”which greatly eased his transition into the ?rst team.[30][31]

To gain further match experience,Messi joined Barcelona C in addition to the Juveniles A,playing his

?rst game for the third team on 29November.He helped save them from the relegation zone of the Tercera División ,scoring ?ve goals in 10games,including a hat-trick in eight minutes during a Spanish Cup match while man-marked by Sevilla 's Sergio Ramos .[25][32]His

2.22005–08:Making the starting eleven3

progress was re?ected in his?rst professional contract, signed on4February2004,which lasted until2012 and contained an initial buyout clause of€30million.

A month later,on6March,he made his debut for Barcelona

B in the Segunda División B,and his buyout clause automatically increased to€80million.[25][33] He played?ve games with the B team that season but did not score.[34]Physically he was weaker than his opponents,who were often much older and taller,and in training he worked on increasing his muscle mass and overall strength in order to be able to shake o?defenders.Towards the end of the season,he returned to both youth teams,helping the Juveniles B win the league.He?nished the campaign having scored for four of his?ve teams with a total of36goals in all o?cial competitions.[25][32]

During the2004–05season,Messi was a guaranteed starter for the B team,playing17games throughout the campaign and scoring on six occasions.[29][35]Since his debut the previous November,he had not been called up to the?rst team again,but in October2004,the senior players asked manager Frank Rijkaard to pro-mote him.[29]Since Ronaldinho already played on the left wing,Rijkaard moved Messi from his usual position onto the right?ank,though initially against the player’s wishes,allowing him to cut into the centre of the pitch and shoot with his dominant left foot.[36][37]Messi made his league debut during the next match on16October, against Espanyol,coming on in the82nd minute.[16]At 17years,three months,and22days old,he was at the time the youngest player to represent Barcelona in an o?-cial competition.[31]As a substitute player,he played only 77minutes in nine matches for the?rst team that sea-son,including his debut in the UEFA Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk.[35][38]He scored his?rst se-nior goal on1May2005,against Albacete,from an assist by Ronaldinho,becoming at that time the youngest-ever scorer for the club.[36][39]Barcelona,in their second sea-son under Rijkaard,won the league for the?rst time in six years.[40]

2.22005–08:Making the starting eleven “In my entire life I have never seen a player of such quality and personality at such a young age,particularly wearing the'heavy'shirt of one of the world’s great clubs.”—Fabio Capello praises the18-year-old Messi following the Joan Gamper trophy in August2005.[41]

On24June2005,his18th birthday,Messi signed his ?rst contract as a senior team player.It made him a Barcelona player until2010,two years less than his pre-vious contract,but his buyout clause increased to€150 million.[33]His breakthrough came two months later,on 24August,during the Joan Gamper trophy,Barcelona’s pre-season competition.A starter for the?rst time,he gave a well-received performance against Fabio Capello's Juventus,receiving an ovation from the Camp Nou.[41] While Capello requested to loan Messi,a bid to buy him came from Inter Milan,who were willing to pay his buyout clause and triple his wages.According to then-president Joan Laporta,it was the only time the club faced a real risk of losing Messi,but he ultimately de-cided to stay.[42]On16September,his contract was up-dated for the second time in three months and extended to2014.

[33][43]

Messi during a training session with Bar?a in August2006 Due to issues regarding his legal status in the Spanish Football Federation,Messi missed the start of La Liga, but on26September,he acquired Spanish citizenship and became eligible to play.[43][44]Wearing the number19 shirt,he gradually established himself as the?rst-choice right winger,forming an attacking trio with Ronaldinho and striker Samuel Eto'o.[23][45][46]He was in the starting line-up in major matches like his?rst clásico against ri-vals Real Madrid on19November,as well as their away victory over Chelsea in the last16round of the Cham-pions League,where he played his best match to that point.[47][45]After he had scored8goals in25games,in-cluding his?rst in the Champions League,[48]his season ended prematurely during the return leg against Chelsea on7March2006,when he su?ered a torn hamstring. Messi worked to regain?tness in time for the Champions League?nal,but was told the day of the?nal,17May, that he was not?t enough to play.He was so disappointed that he did not celebrate their victory over Arsenal in Paris,something he later came to regret.[40][45]

While Barcelona began a gradual decline,the19-year-old Messi established himself as one of the best players in the world during the2006–07campaign.[49][50]Already an idol to the culés,the club’s supporters,he scored17 goals in36games across all competitions.[50][51]How-ever,he continued to be plagued by major injuries;a metatarsal fracture sustained on12November2006kept him out of action for three months.[52][53]He recovered in time for the last16round of the Champions League against Liverpool,but was e?ectively marked out of the game;Barcelona,the reigning champions,were out of the competition.[54]In the league,his goal contribution in-

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creased towards the end of the season;11of his 14goals came from the last 13games.[51]On 10March 2007,he scored his ?rst hat-trick in a clásico ,the ?rst player to do so in 12years,equalizing after each goal by Real Madrid to end the match in a 3–3draw in extra time .[55]His grow-ing importance to the club was re?ected in a new contract,signed that month,which greatly increased his wages.

[56]

Messi makes his Maradona-esque run against Getafe in April 2007.

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 three weeks.[57]During a Copa del Rey semi-?nal against Getafe on 18April,he scored a goal remarkably similar to Maradona’s goal in the quarter-?nals of the 1986FIFA World Cup ,known as the Goal of the Cen-tury .Messi collected the ball on the right side near the halfway line,ran 60metres (200ft),and beat ?ve defend-ers before scoring with an angled ?nish,just as Maradona had done.[14][58]A league match against Espanyol on 9June saw him score by launching himself at the ball and guiding it past the goalkeeper with his hand in similar fashion to Maradona’s Hand of God goal in the same World Cup match.[59]As Messi continued his individual rise,Barcelona faltered;the team failed to reach the Copa del Rey ?nal after Messi was rested during the second leg against Getafe and lost the league to Real Madrid on goal average.[60][61]

After Ronaldinho lost form,Messi became Bar?a’s new star player at only 20years old,receiving the nickname “Messiah”from the Spanish media.[14][62][63]His e?orts in 2007also earned him award recognition;journalists voted him the third-best player of the year for the Ballon d'Or ,behind Kakáand runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo ,while international managers and national team captains voted him second for the FIFA World Player of the Year award,again behind Kaká.[64][65]Although he managed to score 16goals during the 2007–08campaign,[66]the second half of his season was again marred by injuries af-ter he su?ered a torn hamstring on 15December.[67]He returned to score twice in their away victory against Celtic in the last 16round of the Champions League,becoming

the competition’s top scorer at that point with six goals,[68]but reinjured himself during the return leg on 4March 2008.Rijkaard had ?elded him despite warning from the medical sta?,leading captain Carles Puyol to criti-cise the Spanish media for pressuring Messi to play every match.[67]Barcelona ?nished the season without trophies,eliminated in the Champions League semi-?nals by the eventual champions,Manchester United ,and placed third in the league.[69]

2.32008–09:Winning the sextuple

After two unsuccessful seasons,Barcelona were in need of an overhaul,leading to the dismissals of Rijkaard and Ronaldinho.Upon the latter’s departure,Messi was given the number 10shirt.[46]He signed a new contract in July 2008on an annual salary of €7.8million,becoming the club’s highest-paid player.[70][71]Ahead of the new sea-son,a major concern remained his frequent muscular in-juries,which had left him side-lined for a total of eight months between 2006and 2008.To combat the prob-lem,the club implemented new training,nutrition,and lifestyle regimens,and assigned him a personal physio-therapist,who would travel with him during call-ups for the Argentina national team .As a result,Messi remained virtually injury-free during the next four years,allowing him to reach his full potential.[53][72]In his ?rst uninter-rupted campaign,the 2008–09season,he scored 38goals in 51games,contributing alongside Eto'o and winger Thierry Henry to a total of 100goals in all competitions,a record at the time for the club.[73][74]Despite his injuries early in the year,his performances in 2008saw him again voted runner-up for the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award,both times behind Cristiano Ronaldo.

[64][75]

Messi in the Champions League ?nal against Manchester United in May 2009.

During his ?rst season under Barcelona’s new manager,former captain Pep Guardiola ,Messi played mainly on the right wing,like he had under Rijkaard,though this time as a false winger with the freedom to cut inside and

2.42010–11:Continued success5

roam the centre.During a clásico on2May2009,how-ever,he played for the?rst time as a false nine,posi-tioned as a centre-forward but dropping deep into mid-?eld to link up with Xavi and Andrés Iniesta.He assisted with a chip his side’s?rst goal and scored twice to end the match in an emphatic6–2victory,their greatest-ever score at Real Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium.[76][77]Return-ing to the wing,he played his?rst?nal since breaking into the?rst team on13May,scoring once and assisting a second goal as they defeated Athletic Bilbao4–1to win the Copa del Rey.[78]With23league goals from Messi that season,they were crowned La Liga champions three days later to win their?fth double.[73][79]

As the season’s Champions League top scorer with nine goals,the youngest in the tournament’s history,[80]Messi scored two goals and assisted two more to ensure a4–0 quarter-?nal victory over Bayern Munich.[76]He returned as a false nine during the?nal on27May in Rome,where they faced Manchester United.When he headed the ball over goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to make the end score 2–0,Barcelona were champions of Europe,achieving the ?rst treble in the history of Spanish football.[81][82]Their success was re?ected in a new contract,signed on18 September,which committed Messi to the club through 2016with a new buyout clause of€250million,while his salary increased to€12million.[70]Bar?a’s prosper-ity continued into the second half of2009,as they be-came the?rst club to achieve the sextuple,winning six top-tier trophies in a single year.[83]After victories in the Supercopa de Espa?a and UEFA Super Cup in August, they won the FIFA Club World Cup against Estudiantes on19December,with Messi scoring the winning2–1 goal with his chest.[84]At22years old,Messi won the Bal-lon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, both times by the greatest voting margin in each trophy’s history.[64]

2.42010–11:Continued success

“Messi is the best player in the world by some distance. He’s like a PlayStation.He can take advantage of every mistake we make.”

—Arsène Wenger commends Messi for his four–goal dis-play against Arsenal in April2010.[85]

Unsatis?ed with his position on the right wing,Messi re-sumed playing as a false nine in early2010,beginning with a Champions League last16round match against Stuttgart.After a?rst-leg draw,they won the second leg 4–0with two goals and an assist from Messi.At that point,he e?ectively became the tactical focal point of Guardiola’s team,and his goalscoring rate increased.[86] Messi scored a total of47goals in all competitions that season,equal to Ronaldo's club record from the1996–97campaign.[87][88]He notably scored all of his side’s four goals in the Champions League quarter-?nal against Arsène Wenger's Arsenal on6April,a rare achievement,while becoming Barcelona’s all-time top scorer in the competition.[89][90]Although they were eliminated in the Champions League semi-?nals by the eventual champi-ons,Inter Milan,Messi?nished the season as top scorer, with eight goals,for the second consecutive year.[91]As league top scorer in Spain and Europe with34goals,again tying Ronaldo’s record,he helped Barcelona win La Liga with only a single defeat.

[88][92]

Messi(centre)and his teammates celebrate winning the FIFA Club World Cup in December2011.

Messi secured their?rst trophy of the2010–11campaign, the Supercopa de Espa?a,by scoring a hat-trick in their 4–0victory over Sevilla,after a?rst-leg defeat.[93]As-suming a playmaking role,he was again instrumental in a clásico on29November2010,the?rst with JoséMour-inho in charge of Real Madrid,as Barcelona defeated their rivals5–0.[94]Messi helped the team achieve16 consecutive league victories,a record in Spanish football, concluding with another hat-trick against Atlético Madrid on5February2011.[95][96]His club performances in2010 earned him the inaugural FIFA Ballon d'Or,an amalga-mation of the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award,though his win was met with some criti-cism due to his lack of success with Argentina at the2010 FIFA World Cup.[64][97]Under the award’s old format, he would have placed just outside the top three,owing his win to the votes from the international coaches and captains.[97]

Towards the end of the season,Barcelona played four controversial clásicos in the span of18days.A league match on16April ended in a draw after a penalty from Messi,securing their third consecutive La Liga title.In addition to his31goals,Messi was the league’s top as-sist provider with18assists.[98][99]After they lost the Copa del Rey?nal four days later,he scored both goals in their2–0win in the?rst leg of the Champions League semi-?nals,the second of which—a dribble past three players—was acclaimed as one of the best ever in the competition.Although he did not score,he was again im-portant in the second-leg draw that sent them through to the Champions League?nal,[17][100][101]where they faced Manchester United in a repeat of the?nal two years ear-lier.As the competition’s top scorer for the third consec-

62BARCELONA

utive year,with12goals,Messi gave a man-of-the-match performance at Wembley on28May,scoring the match-winning goal of their3–1victory.[102][103]He?nished the season with53goals and24assists in all competitions,be-coming Barcelona’s all-time single-season top scorer and the?rst player in Spanish football to reach the50-goal benchmark.[98][104][105][106]

As Messi developed into a combination of a number eight (a creator),a nine(scorer),and a10(assistant),he scored an unprecedented73goals and provided29assists in all club competitions during the2011–12season,produc-ing a hat-trick or more on10occasions.[107][108][109]He began the campaign by helping Barcelona win both the Spanish and European super cups;in the Supercopa de Espa?a,he scored three times to achieve a5–4aggregate victory over Real Madrid,overtaking Raúl as the compe-tition’s all-time top scorer with eight goals.[110][111]At the close of the year,on18December,he scored twice in the FIFA Club World Cup?nal,a4–0victory over Santos, winning the Golden Ball as the best player of the tour-nament,as he had done two years previously.[112]For his e?orts in2011,he again received the FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming only the fourth player in history to win the Bal-lon d'Or three times,after Johan Cruy?,Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten.[113]Additionally,he won the in-augural UEFA Best Player in Europe Award,a revival of the old-style Ballon d'Or.[114]By then,Messi was widely considered one of the best players in history,alongside legends like Diego Maradona and Pelé.[17]

2.52012:A record-breaking year

“I feel sorry for those who want to compete for Messi’s throne—it’s impossible,this kid is unique.”

—Pep Guardiola after Messi became Barcelona’s all-time top scorer at age24in March2012[115][116]

As Messi maintained his goalscoring form into the sec-ond half of the season,the year2012saw him break sev-eral longstanding records.On7March,two weeks after scoring four goals in a league?xture against Valencia,he scored?ve times in a Champions League last16round match against Bayer Leverkusen,an unprecedented achievement in the history of the competition.[117][118]In addition to being the joint top assist provider with?ve as-sists,this feat made him top scorer with14goals,tying JoséAlta?ni's record from the1962–63season,as well as becoming only the second player after Gerd Müller to be top scorer in four campaigns.[119][120]Two weeks later,on20March,Messi became the top goalscorer in Barcelona’s history at24years old,overtaking the57-year record of César Rodríguez's232goals with a hat-trick against Granada.[116]

Despite Messi’s individual form,Barcelona’s four-year cycle of success under Guardiola—one of the greatest eras in the club’s history—drew to an end.[121]Although they won the Copa del Rey against Athletic Bilbao on

25Messi points to the sky during his?ve-goal display against Bayer Leverkusen in March2012.

May,their fourteenth title of that period,they had lost the league to Real Madrid and were eliminated in the Champions League semi-?nals by the eventual champi-ons,Chelsea,with Messi sending a crucial second-leg penalty kick against the crossbar.[122][123]In their last home league match on5May,against Espanyol,Messi scored all four goals before approaching the bench to em-brace Guardiola,who had announced his resignation as manager.[124]He?nished the season as league top scorer in Spain and Europe for a second time,with50goals,an all-time La Liga record,while his73goals in all com-petitions surpassed Gerd Müller’s67goals in the1972–73Bundesliga season,making him the single-season top scorer in the history of European club football.[125][126] Under manager Tito Vilanova,who had?rst coached him aged14at La Masia,Messi helped the club achieve their best-ever start to a La Liga season during the sec-ond half of the year,amassing55points by the competi-tion’s midway point,a record in Spanish football.[127][128] A double scored on9December against Real Betis saw him break two longstanding records:he surpassed César Rodríguez’s record of190league goals,becom-ing Barcelona’s all-time top scorer in La Liga,and Gerd Müller’s record of most goals scored in a calendar year, overtaking his85goals scored in1972for Bayern Munich and Germany.[129]He sent Müller a number10Barcelona shirt,signed“with respect and admiration”,after break-ing his40-year record.[130]At the close of the year,Messi had scored an unprecedented91goals in all competitions for Barcelona and Argentina.[131]Although FIFA did not acknowledge the achievement,citing veri?ability issues, he received the Guinness World Records title for most goals scored in a calendar year.[132][133]As the odds-on favourite,Messi again won the FIFA Ballon d'Or,becom-ing the only player in history to win the Ballon d'Or four times.[131][134]

2.62013–14:Messidependence7

2.62013–14:Messidependence

Barcelona had virtually secured their La Liga title by the start of2013,eventually equalling Real Madrid’s100-point record of the previous season.However,their per-formances deteriorated in the second half of the2012–13 campaign,concurrently with Vilanova’s absence due to ill health.[135][136]After losing successive clásicos,including the Copa del Rey semi-?nals,they were nearly eliminated in the?rst knockout round of the Champions League by https://www.wendangku.net/doc/6114653391.html,an,but a revival of form in the second leg led to a4–0comeback,with two goals and an assist from Messi.[137]Now in his ninth senior season with Barcelona, Messi signed a new contract on7February,committing himself to the club through2018,while his?xed wage rose to€13million.[138][139]He wore the captain’s arm-band for the?rst time a month later,on17March,in a league match against Rayo Vallecano;by then,he had be-come the team’s tactical focal point to a degree that was arguably rivalled only by former Barcelona legends Josep Samitier,LászlóKubala,and Johan Cruy?.[140]Since his evolution into a false nine three years earlier,his input into the team’s attack had increased exponentially;from 24percent in their treble-winning campaign,his goal con-tribution rose to more than40percent that season.[141]“In Leo we are talking about the best player in the world and when things are not going well you have to use him. Even if he is half lame,his presence on the pitch is enough to lift us and our play in general.”

—Defender Gerard Piquéexplains Barcelona’s reliance on an un?t Messi against Paris Saint-Germain in April 2013.[142]

After four largely injury-free seasons,the muscular in-juries that had previously plagued Messi reoccurred.Af-ter he su?ered a hamstring strain on2April,during the ?rst quarter-?nal against Paris Saint-Germain,his ap-pearances became sporadic.In the second leg against PSG,with an underperforming Barcelona down a goal, Messi came o?the bench in the second half and within nine minutes helped create their game-tying goal,which allowed them to progress to the semi-?nals.Still un?t,he proved ine?ective during the?rst leg against Bayern Mu-nich and was unable to play at all during the second,as Barcelona were defeated7–0on aggregate by the eventual champions.[143][144]These matches gave credence to the notion of Messidependencia,Barcelona’s perceived tacti-cal and psychological dependence on their star player.[144] Messi continued to struggle with injury throughout2013, eventually parting ways with his long-time personal physiotherapist.[145]Further damage to his hamstring sus-tained on12May ended his goalscoring streak of21con-secutive league games,a worldwide record;he had net-ted33goals during his run,including a four-goal dis-play against Osasuna,while becoming the?rst player to score consecutively against all19opposition teams in La Liga.[140][146][147][148]With60goals in all competitions,including46goals in La Liga,he?nished the campaign as league top scorer in Spain and Europe for the second consecutive year,becoming the?rst player in history to win the European Golden Shoe three times.[149][150]Fol-lowing an irregular start to the new season under manager Tata Martino,formerly of his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys,Messi su?ered his?fth injury that year when he tore his hamstring on10November,leaving him side-lined for two months.[151][152]Despite his injuries,he was voted runner-up for the FIFA Ballon d'Or,relinquish-ing the award after a four-year monopoly to Cristiano Ronaldo.

[153]

Messi celebrates his second goal against Granada in September 2014.

During the second half of the2013–14season,doubts persisted over Messi’s form,leading to a perception among the culés that he was reserving himself for the 2014FIFA World Cup.Statistically,his contribution of goals,shots,and passes had dropped signi?cantly com-pared to previous seasons.[154][155][156]He still produced ?ne moments,as he did when he broke two longstanding records in seven days:a hat-trick on16March against Osasuna saw him overtake Paulino Alcántara's369goals to become Barcelona’s top goalscorer in all competi-tions including friendlies,while another hat-trick against Real Madrid on23March made him the all-time top scorer in El Clásico,ahead of the18goals scored by Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stéfano.[154][157]Messi ?nished the campaign with his worst output in?ve sea-sons,though he still managed to score41goals in all competitions.[155][158]For the?rst time in?ve years, Barcelona ended the season without a major trophy;they were defeated in the Copa del Rey?nal by Real Madrid and lost the league in the last game to Atlético Madrid, causing Messi to be booed by sections of fans at the Camp Nou.[159][160]

After prolonged speculation over his future with the club, Messi signed a new contract on19May2014,only a year after his last contractual update;his salary increased to €20million,or€36million before taxes,the highest wage ever in the sport.[161][162]Under their new manager, former captain Luis Enrique,Messi experienced a largely

8

2BARCELONA

injury-free start to the 2014–15season,allowing him to break three more longstanding records towards the end of the year.[163]A hat-trick scored against Sevilla on 22November made him the all-time top scorer in La Liga,as he surpassed the 59-year record of 251league goals held by Telmo Zarra .[164]Three days later,he scored another hat-trick against APOEL ,overtaking Raúl’s 71goals to become top scorer in the history of the Cham-pions League.[165]A third hat-trick,scored against city rivals Espanyol on 7December,allowed him to surpass César Rodríguez as the all-time top scorer in the Derbi barceloníwith 12goals.[166]Messi again placed second in the FIFA Ballon d'Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo,largely owing to his second-place achievement with Argentina at the World Cup.[167]

2.72015:A historic treble

“Messi is an alien that dedicates himself to playing with

humans.”

—Juventus captain Gianluigi Bu?on ahead of their meet-ing in the Champions League ?nal in June 2015[168]

At the start of 2015,Barcelona were perceived to be headed for another disappointing end to the season,with renewed speculation in the media that Messi was leaving the club.A turning point came on 11January during a 3–1victory over Atlético Madrid,the ?rst time Bar?a’s attacking trident of Messi,Luis Suárez ,and Neymar ,dubbed MSN,each scored in a match,marking the be-ginning of a highly successful run.[169][170]After ?ve years of playing in the centre of the pitch,Messi had re-turned to his old position on the right wing late the pre-vious year,by his own suggestion according to Suárez,their striker.[170][171]From there,he regained his best—arguably his best-ever—form,while Suárez and Ney-mar ended the team’s attacking dependency on their star player.[172][173]With 58goals from Messi,the trio scored a total of 122goals in all competitions that season,a record in Spanish football.

[174][175]Messi battles Juventus defender Patrice Evra for the ball during the Champions League ?nal in June 2015.

Towards the end of the campaign,Messi scored the only goal in a 1–0away win over Atlético Madrid on 17May,securing the La Liga title.[176]Among his 43league goals that season was a hat-trick scored in 11minutes against Rayo Vallecano on 8March,the fastest of his senior career;it was his thirty-second hat-trick overall for Barcelona,allowing him to overtake Telmo Zarra as the player with the most hat-tricks ever in Spanish football.[175][177]Additionally,as the season’s top assist provider with 18assists,he surpassed Luís Figo as the player with the most assists in La Liga;[note 3]he made his record 106th assist in a ?xture against Levante on 15February,which he also scored a hat-trick.[178][179][180]Messi then scored twice as Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 3–1in the Copa del Rey ?nal on 30May,achiev-ing the sixth double in their history.His opening goal was hailed as one of the greatest in his career;he col-lected the ball near the halfway line and beat four oppos-ing players,before feinting the goalkeeper to score in a tight space by the near post.[181]The goal was later named

one of the three ?nal nominees for the 2015FIFA Puskás

Award .[182]

In the Champions League,Messi scored twice and as-sisted on another in their 3–0semi-?nal victory over Bay-ern Munich,now under the stewardship of Guardiola.[183]His second goal,which came only three minutes after his ?rst,saw him chip the ball over goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after his dribble past Jér?me Boateng had made the defender drop to the ground;it went viral ,becoming the year’s most tweeted about sporting moment,and was named the best goal of the season by UEFA .[184][185]De-spite a second-leg loss,Barcelona progressed to the ?nal on 6June in Berlin,where they defeated Juventus 3–1to win their second treble,becoming the ?rst club in his-tory to win the league,domestic cup,and European cup twice.[186][187]Although Messi did not score,he partici-pated in each of his side’s goals,particularly the second as he forced a parried save from goalkeeper Gianluigi Buf-fon from which Suárez scored the match-winning goal on the rebound.[174]In addition to being the top assist provider with 6assists,Messi ?nished the competition as

the joint top scorer,with 10goals,which earned him the distinction of being the ?rst player ever to achieve the top scoring mark in ?ve Champions League seasons.[188][189]For his e?orts that season,he received the UEFA Best Player in Europe award for a second time.[190]

Messi opened the 2015–16season by scoring twice from free kicks in Barcelona’s 5–4victory over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup .[191]A subsequent 5–1aggregate de-feat against Athletic Bilbao in the Supercopa de Espa?a ended their expressed hopes of a second sextuple,with Messi scoring his side’s only goal.[192]On 16September,he became the youngest player to make 100appearances in the UEFA Champions League in a 1–1away draw to Roma .[193]On 26September,Messi sustained an injury in Barcelona’s match against Las Palmas ;tests later con-?rmed that he su?ered a tear in the medial collateral lig-

9

Messi dribbling past Sevilla’séver Banega in the2015UEFA Su-per Cup

ament of his left knee,ruling him out for six to eight weeks.[194]He?nally returned to the pitch on21Novem-ber,making a substitute appearance in Barcelona’s4–0away win over rivals Real Madrid in El Clásico.[195] Messi capped o?the year by opening the scoring in the36th minute of the2015FIFA Club World Cup Fi-nal on20December,collecting his?fth club trophy of 2015as Barcelona went on to defeat River Plate3–0in Yokohama,and winning the tournament’s Silver Ball,de-spite missing the semi-?nal.[196]On30December,Messi scored on his500th appearance for Barcelona,in a4–0 home win over Real Betis.[197]

2.82016

On6January2016,recording Barcelona’s?rst goal of the new year,Messi scored two goals and assisted the other two in a4–1derby win over Espanyol at the Camp Nou, in the?rst leg of the Round of16of the2015–16Copa del Rey.[198]Five days later,Messi won the FIFA Ballon d'Or for a record?fth time in his career.[199]On3Febru-ary,he scored a hat-trick in Barcelona’s7–0win against Valencia CF in the?rst leg of the Copa del Rey semi-?nal at the Camp Nou,also scoring his500th career goal in the process,including youth competitions.[200]With teammate Luis Suárez scoring the other four goals in the same match,this was the?rst time that two players had scored at least three goals each at Camp Nou,and the?rst time since Luis Suárez Miramontes and Justo Tejada in 1956.The feat had only occurred three times before in the club’s history,all at Camp de Les Corts.[201]The next league match at Camp Nou,a6–1win against Celta Vigo, Messi assisted Suárez from a penalty kick.Some people saw it as“a touch of genius”,while others criticised it as being disrespectful to the opponent.However,the Celta players never complained and their coach defended the penalty,stating:“Barca’s forwards are very respectful”. The penalty routine has been compared to that of Bar?a icon Johan Cruy?in1982,who was battling lung can-cer,leading many fans to indicate that the penalty was a tribute to him.Cruy?himself was“very happy”with the play,insisting“it was legal and entertaining”.[202][203][204] On17February,Messi reached his300th league goal in a1–3away win against Sporting Gijon.[205]A few days later,he scored both goals in Barcelona’s0–2win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium,in the?rst leg of the2015–16UEFA Champions League Round of16, with the second goal being Barcelona’s10,000th in o?-cial competitions.[206]On17April,Messi ended a?ve-match scoring drought with his500th senior career goal for club and country in Barcelona’s2–1home loss to Valencia.[207]Messi?nished the2015–16season by set-ting up both goals in Barcelona’s2–0extra time win over Sevilla in the2016Copa del Rey Final,at the Vicente Calderón Stadium,on22May2016,as the club cele-brated winning the domestic double for the second con-secutive season.[208][209]In total,Messi scored41goals and provided23assists,as Barcelona’s attacking trio managed a Spanish record of131goals throughout the season,breaking the record they had set the previous season.[210]

3Argentina national team

3.12004–05:Success at youth level

As a dual Argentine–Spanish national,Messi was eligible to play for the national team of both countries.[211]Selec-tors for Spain’s Under-17squad began pursuing him in 2003after Barcelona’s director of football,Carles Rex-ach,alerted the Royal Spanish Football Federation to their young player.Messi declined the o?er,having as-pired to represent La Albiceleste since childhood.To further prevent Spain from taking him,the Argentine Football Association organised two Under-20friendlies in June2004,against Paraguay and Uruguay,with the purpose of?nalising his status as an Argentina player in FIFA.Five days after his seventeenth birthday,on29 June,he made his debut for his country against Paraguay, scoring once and providing two assists in their8–0vic-tory.He was subsequently included in the squad for the South American Youth Championship,held in Colom-bia in February2005.As he lacked the stamina of his teammates,the result of his former growth hormone de-

103ARGENTINA NATIONAL TEAM

?ciency,he was used as a substitute in six of the nine games,proving more e?ective when coming on in the second half.After being named man of the match against Venezuela,he scored the winning2–1goal in the crucial last match against Brazil,thereby securing their third-place quali?cation for the FIFA World Youth Champi-onship.[212]

Aware of his physical limitations,Messi employed a per-sonal trainer to increase his muscle mass,returning to the squad in improved condition in time for the World Youth Championship,hosted by the Netherlands in June 2005.After he was left out of the starting line-up in their?rst match against the United States,a1–0defeat, the squad’s senior players asked manager Francisco Fer-raro to let Messi start,as they considered him their best player.After helping the team defeat Egypt and Ger-many to progress past the group stage,Messi proved de-cisive in the knockout phase as he scored their equal-izer against Colombia,provided a goal and an assist against title favourites Spain,and scored their opening goal against reigning champions Brazil.Ahead of the?-nal,he was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.He scored two penalties in their2–1 victory over Nigeria,clinching Argentina’s?fth champi-onship and?nishing the tournament as top scorer with6 goals.[213][214]His performances drew comparisons with compatriot Diego Maradona,who had led Argentina to the title in1979.[214]

3.22005–06:Senior and World Cup de-

buts

In recognition of his achievements with the Under-20 side,senior manager JoséPékerman gave Messi his?rst call-up for a friendly against Hungary on17August2005. Aged18,Messi made his senior debut for Argentina when he came on in the63rd minute,only to be sent o?after two minutes for a perceived foul against an op-posing player who had grabbed his shirt.He had struck the defender with his arm while trying to shake him o?, which the referee interpreted as an intentional elbowing, a contentious decision.[215]Messi was reportedly found weeping in the dressing room after his sending-o?.[216] He returned to the team on3September in their World Cup quali?er defeat to Paraguay,which he had declared his“re-debut”ahead of the match.[217]Messi started his ?rst game in the next qualifying match against Peru,in which he was able to win a crucial penalty that secured their victory;after the match Pékerman described him as“a jewel”.[218]He subsequently made regular appear-ances for the team ahead of Argentina’s participation in the2006FIFA World Cup,scoring his?rst goal in a friendly against Croatia on1March2006.[219]A ham-string injury sustained a week later jeopardised his pres-ence in the World Cup,but he was nevertheless selected for Pékerman’s squad and regained?tness in time for the start of the tournament.[220]During the World Cup in Germany,Messi witnessed their opening match victory against Ivory Coast from the sub-stitutes’bench.In the next match against Serbia and Montenegro,he became the youngest player to repre-sent Argentina at a World Cup when he came on as a substitute in the74th minute.He assisted their fourth strike within minutes and scored the?nal goal in their 6–0victory,making him the youngest scorer in the tour-nament and the sixth-youngest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup.[221]As their progression to the knock-out phase was secured,several starters were rested dur-ing the last group match.Messi consequently started the game against the Netherlands,a0–0draw,as they won their group on goal di?erential.[222][223]In the round of 16match against Mexico,played on his nineteenth birth-day,Messi came on in the84th minute,with the score tied at1–1.He appeared to score a goal,but it was con-tentiously ruled o?side,with the team needing a late goal in extra time to proceed.[224][225]He did not play in the quarter-?nal against Germany,during which Argentina were eliminated4–2in a penalty shootout.[226][227]Back home,Pékerman’s decision to leave him on the bench against Germany led to widespread criticism from those who believed Messi could have changed the outcome of the match in Argentina’s favour.[228][229]

3.32007–08:Copa América?nal and

Olympic

gold

Messi evades Brazil’s Marcelo in the semi-?nal of the2008Sum-mer Olympics.

As Messi evolved into one of the best players in the world, he secured a place in Coco Basile's starting line-up,as part of a team considered favourites to win the2007 Copa América,held in Venezuela.[50][230]He set up the game-winning goal of their4–1victory over the United States in the opening match,before winning a penalty that led to the game-tying?rst strike of their4–2win in the next match against Colombia.[231][232]As they had se-cured their place in the knockout phase,Messi started the next game on the bench,coming on in the last25minutes with the score at0–0to help his team defeat Paraguay

3.42008–11:Collective decline11

by assisting their only goal.At the quarter-?nal stage, where the group winners faced Peru,he scored the sec-ond goal of a4–0victory that saw them through to the semi-?nal,during which he chipped the ball over Mex-ico’s goalkeeper to ensure another3–0win.[230]In a sur-prise defeat,Argentina lost the?nal3–0to a Brazil that lacked several of their best players.[233]Their unexpected loss was followed by much criticism in Argentina,though Messi was mostly exempt due to his young age and sec-ondary status to star player Juan Román Riquelme.[230] He was named the best young player of the tournament by CONMEBOL.[234]

Ahead of the2008Summer Olympics,Barcelona legally barred Messi from representing Argentina at the tour-nament as it coincided with their Champions League qualifying matches.[235]After interference from newly appointed manager Pep Guardiola,who had won the tournament in1992,Messi was permitted to join Sergio Batista's Under-23squad in Beijing.[236]During the?rst match,he scored the opening goal and assisted another in their2–1victory over Ivory Coast.Following a1–0 win in the next group match against Australia,ensuring their quarter-?nal quali?cation,Messi was rested during the game against Serbia,while his side won the match to?nish?rst in their group.Against the Netherlands,he again scored the?rst goal and assisted a second strike to help his team to a2–1win in extra time.After a3–0semi-?nal victory over Brazil,Messi assisted the only goal in the?nal as Argentina defeated Nigeria to claim Olympic gold medals.[237]Along with Riquelme,Messi was singled out by FIFA as the stand-out player from the tournament’s best team.[238]

3.42008–11:Collective decline

From late2008,the national team experienced a three-year period marked by poor performances.[230]Under manager Diego Maradona,who had led Argentina to World Cup victory as a player,the team struggled to qual-ify for the2010FIFA World Cup,securing their place in the tournament only after defeating Uruguay1–0in their last qualifying match.Maradona was criticised for his strategic decisions as he played Messi out of position,po-sitioned too deep for him to be able to contribute to the attack to his full ability.In eight qualifying matches un-der Maradona’s stewardship,Messi scored only one goal, netting the opening goal in the?rst such match,a4–0 victory over Venezuela.[219][239]During that game,played on28March2009,he wore Argentina’s number10shirt for the?rst time,following the international retirement of Riquelme.[240]Overall,Messi scored four goals in18 appearances during the qualifying process.[219]Ahead of the tournament,Maradona visited Messi in Barcelona to request his tactical input;Messi then outlined a4-3-1-2 formation with himself playing behind the two strikers, a playmaking position known as the enganche in Argen-tine football,which had been his preferred position since childhood.

[241]

Messi in action during the opening match against Bolivia in the 2011Copa América

Despite their poor qualifying campaign,Argentina were considered title contenders at the World Cup in South Africa.At the start of the tournament,the new forma-tion proved e?ective;Messi managed at least four at-tempts on goal during their opening match but was repeat-edly denied by Nigeria’s goalkeeper,resulting in a1–0 win.During the next match against Korea,he excelled in his playmaking role,participating in all four goals of his side’s4–1victory.As their place in the knockout phase was guaranteed,most of the starters were rested during the last group match,but Messi reportedly refused to be benched.[239]He wore the captain’s armband for the?rst time in their2–0win against Greece;as the focal point of their play,he helped create their second goal to see Ar-gentina?nish as group winners.[242][243]In the round of 16,they defeated Mexico3–1,with Messi assisting their ?rst goal,a controversial strike that stood despite being o?side.[244]

Argentina’s unstructured defence had proved a liability throughout the World Cup and?nally led to their elimi-nation in the quarter-?nal against Germany,at the same stage of the tournament and by the same opponent as four years earlier.Their4–0loss was their worst margin of de-feat since1974.[244]FIFA subsequently identi?ed Messi as one of the tournament’s10best players,citing his“out-standing”pace and creativity and“spectacular and e?-cient”dribbling,shooting,and passing.[245]Back home, however,Messi was the subject of far harsher judgement. As the perceived best player in the world,he had been ex-

12

3ARGENTINA NATIONAL TEAM

pected to lead an average team to the title,as Maradona arguably did in 1986,but he had failed to replicate his performances at Barcelona with the national team,lead-ing to the accusation that he cared less about his country than his club.[246][247]

Maradona was replaced by Sergio Batista,who had or-chestrated their Olympic victory.Batista publicly stated that he intended to build the team around Messi,employ-ing him as a false nine within a 4-3-3system,as used to much success by Barcelona.[246][248]Although Messi scored a record 53goals during the 2010–11club season,he had not scored for Argentina in an o?cial match since March 2009.[98][219]Despite the tactical change,his goal drought continued during the 2011Copa América ,hosted by Argentina.Their ?rst two matches,against Bolivia and Colombia,ended in draws,with Messi underperform-ing by his standards.Media and fans noted that he did not combine well with striker Carlos Tévez ,who enjoyed far greater popularity among the Argentine public;Messi was consequently booed by his own team’s supporters for the ?rst time in his career.During the crucial next match,with Tévez on the bench,he gave a well-received perfor-mance,assisting two goals in their 3–0victory over Costa Rica.After the quarter-?nal against Uruguay ended in a 1–1draw following extra time,with Messi having as-sisted their equaliser,Argentina were eliminated 4–5in the penalty shootout by the eventual champions.[246]

3.52011–13:Assuming the

captaincy

Messi scored his ?rst international hat-trick against Switzerland in February 2012.

After Argentina’s unsuccessful performance in the Copa América,Batista was replaced by Alejandro Sabella .Upon his appointment in August 2011,Sabella awarded the 24-year-old Messi the captaincy of the squad,in ac-cord with then-captain Javier Mascherano .Reserved by nature,Messi went on to lead his squad by example as their best player,while Mascherano continued to ful?l the role of the team’s on-?eld leader and motivator.[249][250]In a further redesign of the team,Sabella dismissed Tévez and brought in players with whom Messi had won the World Youth Championship and Olympic Games.Now playing in a free role in an improving team,Messi ?-nally ended his goal draught by scoring during their ?rst World Cup qualifying match against Chile on 7Octo-ber,his ?rst o?cial goal for Argentina in two-and-a-half years.[219][249]

Under Sabella,his goalscoring rate drastically increased;where he had scored only 17goals in 61matches under his previous managers,he scored 25times in 32appear-ances during the following three years.[219][249]Messi net-ted a total of 12goals in nine games for Argentina in 2012,equalling the record held by Gabriel Batistuta ,Ar-gentina’s all-time top scorer,for the most goals scored in a calendar year for their country.[251][252]His ?rst hat-trick with the Albicelestes came in a friendly against Switzer-land on 29February 2012,followed by two more hat-tricks over the next year-and-a-half in friendlies against Brazil and Guatemala.Messi then helped the team se-cure their place in the 2014FIFA World Cup with a 5–2victory over Paraguay on 10September 2013;in addi-tion to providing an assist,he scored twice from a penalty kick,taking his international tally to 37goals to become Argentina’s second-highest goalscorer behind only Batis-tuta.Overall,he had scored a total of 10goals in 14matches during the qualifying campaign.[219][253]Con-currently with his bettered performances,his relationship with his compatriots improved,as he gradually began to be perceived more favourably in Argentina.[249]

3.62014–15:World Cup and Copa

América ?nals

“Messi was speaking to himself,he was saying over and over again:‘The best,but not the champion’.”

—Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Messi’s re-action to being named 2014FIFA World Cup’s best player .[254]

Ahead of the World Cup in Brazil,doubts persisted over Messi’s form,as he ?nished an unsuccessful and injury-plagued season with Barcelona.At the start of the tournament,however,he gave strong perfor-mances,being elected man of the match in their ?rst four matches.[156][255]In his ?rst World Cup match as captain,he led them to a 2–1victory over Bosnia and Herzegov-ina;he helped create their early opening goal and scored their second strike after a dribble past three players,his

3.72016:Copa América Centenario 13

?rst World Cup goal since his debut in the tournament eight years earlier.[256]During the second match against Iran,he scored an injury-time goal from 23metres out to end the game in a 1–0win,securing their quali?cation for the knockout phase.[257]He scored twice in the last group match,a 3–2victory over Nigeria,his second goal from a free kick,as they ?nished ?rst in their group.[258]Messi assisted a late goal in extra time to ensure a 1–0win against Switzerland in the round of 16,before starting the play that led to their match-winning 1–0goal in the quarter-?nal against Belgium,helping Argentina progress to the semi-?nal of the World Cup for the ?rst time since 1990.[259][260]Following a 0–0draw in extra time,they eliminated the Netherlands 4–2in a penalty shootout to reach the ?nal.

[261]

Messi battles Germany’s Mats Hummels for the ball during the

?nal of the 2014FIFA World Cup .

Billed as Messi versus Germany,the world’s best player against the best team,the ?nal was a repeat of the 1990?nal featuring Diego Maradona.[262][263]Within the ?rst half-hour,Messi had started the play that led to a goal,but it was ruled o?side.He missed several opportunities

to open the scoring throughout the match,in particular at the start of the second half when his breakaway e?ort

went wide of the far post.Substitute Mario G?tze ?nally scored in the 113th minute,followed in the last minute of extra time by a free kick that Messi sent over the net,as Germany won the match 1–0to claim the World Cup.[264]At the conclusion of the ?nal,Messi was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.In addi-tion to being the joint third-highest goalscorer,with four goals and an assist,he created the most chances,com-pleted the most dribbling runs,made the most deliveries into the penalty area,and produced the most throughballs in the competition.[255][265]However,his selection drew criticism due to his lack of goals in the knockout round;FIFA president Sepp Blatter expressed his surprise,while Maradona suggested that Messi had undeservedly been chosen for marketing purposes.[266]

Another ?nal appearance,the third of Messi’s senior in-ternational career,followed in the 2015Copa América ,held in Chile.Under the stewardship of former Barcelona manager Tata Martino ,Argentina entered the tournament as title contenders due to their second-place achievement at the World Cup.[267][268]During the opening match against Paraguay,they were ahead two goals by half-time but lost their lead to end the match in a 2–2draw;Messi had scored from a penalty kick,netting his only goal in the tournament.[269]Following a 1–0win against defend-ing champions Uruguay,Messi earned his hundredth cap for his country in the ?nal group match,a 1–0win over Ja-maica,becoming only the ?fth Argentine to achieve this milestone.[270][271]In his 100appearances,he had scored a total of 46goals for Argentina,22of which came in o?cial competitive matches.[219][271]

As Messi evolved from the team’s symbolic captain into a genuine leader,he led Argentina to the knockout stage as group winners.[272][273]In the quarter-?nal,they cre-ated numerous chances,including a rebound header by Messi,but were repeatedly denied by Colombia’s goal-keeper,and ultimately ended the match scoreless,lead-ing to a 5–4penalty shootout in their favour.[274]At the semi-?nal stage,Messi excelled as playmaker as he pro-vided three assists and helped create three more goals in his side’s 6–1victory over Paraguay,receiving applause from the initially hostile crowd.[272]Argentina started the ?nal as the odds-on title favourites,but were defeated by Chile 4–1in a penalty shootout after an 0–0extra-time draw.Faced with aggression from opposing players,in-cluding taking a boot to the midri?,Messi played be-low his standards,though he was the only Argentine to successfully convert his penalty.[275][276]At the close of

the tournament,he was reportedly selected to receive the Most Valuable Player award but rejected the honour.[277]As Argentina continued a trophy draught that began in

1993,the World Cup and Copa América defeats again brought intense criticism for Messi from Argentine me-dia and fans.[278][279]3.72016:Copa América Centenario Messi’s place in Argentina’s Copa América Centenario squad was initially put in jeopardy when he sustained a back injury in a 1–0friendly win over Honduras in a pre-Copa América warm-up match on 27May 2016.[280]It was later reported that he had su?ered a deep bruise in his lumbar region,but that he would remain in Martino’s squad for the tournament,[281][282]although he was later left on the bench in Argentina’s 2–1opening win over

144PLA YER PROFILE

defending champions Chile on6June due to concerns regarding his?tness.[283]Although Messi was declared match-?t for his nation’s second group match against Panama on10June,Martino left him on the bench once again;he replaced Augusto Fernández in the61st minute and subsequently scored a hat-trick,also starting the play which led to Agüero’s goal,as the match ended in a5–0 victory,sealing Argentina’s place in the quarter-?nals of the competition.[284]

4Player pro?le

4.1Style of play

“I have fun like a child in the street.When the day comes when I'm not enjoying it,I will leave football.”—Messi explains his approach to the game in May 2011.[17]

Due to his short stature,Messi has a lower centre of gravity than taller players,which gives him greater agility,allowing him to change direction more quickly and evade opposing tackles.[285][286]For that,the Span-ish media calls him La Pulga Atómica(“The Atomic Flea”).[287][288][289]Despite being physically unimpos-ing,he possesses signi?cant upper-body strength,which, combined with his low centre of gravity and resulting bal-ance,aids him in withstanding physical challenges from opponents;he has consequently been noted for his lack of diving in a sport rife with playacting.[11][286][290]His short,strong legs allow him to excel in short bursts of ac-celeration while his quick feet enable him to retain con-trol of the ball when dribbling at speed.[291]His former Barcelona manager,Pep Guardiola,once stated:“Messi is the only player that runs faster with the ball than he does without it.”[37]Although he has improved his ability with his weaker foot since his mid-20s,Messi is predominantly a left-footed player;with the outside of his left foot,he usually begins dribbling runs,while he uses the inside of his foot to?nish and provide passes and assists.[292][293] A proli?c goalscorer,Messi is known for his?nishing, positioning,quick reactions,and ability to make attack-ing runs to beat the defensive line.He also functions in a playmaking role,courtesy of his vision and precise passing,and is an accurate free kick and penalty kick taker.[286][294]His 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.[285][294]Widely considered to be the best dribbler in the world,[295]and one of the greatest of all time,[296]with regard to this abil-ity,his former Argentina manager Diego Maradona has said of him:“The ball stays glued to his foot;I've seen great players in my career,but I've never seen anyone with Messi’s ball control.”[293]Beyond his individual quali-ties,he is also a well-rounded,hard-working team

player,Messi prepares to shoot with his dominant left foot during the ?nal of the2014FIFA World Cup.

known for his creative combinations,in particular with Barcelona mid?elders Xavi and Andrés Iniesta.[285][286] Tactically,Messi plays in a free attacking role;a versa-tile player,he is capable of attacking on either wing or through the centre of the pitch.His favoured position in childhood was the playmaker behind two strikers,known as the enganche in Argentine football,but he began his career in Spain as a left-winger or left-sided forward.[241] Upon his?rst-team debut,he was moved onto the right wing by manager Frank Rijkaard;from this position,he could more easily cut through the defence into the mid-dle of the pitch and curl shots on goal with his left foot, rather than predominantly cross balls for teammates.[37] Under Guardiola and subsequent managers,he most often played in a false nine role;positioned as a centre-forward or lone striker,he would roam the centre,often moving deep into mid?eld and drawing defenders with him,in order to create and exploit spaces for passes,dribbling runs or combinations with Xavi and Iniesta.[17]Under the stewardship of Luis Enrique,he returned to playing in the right-sided position that characterised much of his early career.[171]With the Argentina national team,Messi has similarly played anywhere along the frontline;under var-ious managers,he has been employed on the right wing, as a false nine,or in a deeper,creative role as a classic number10or attacking mid?elder.[248]

4.2Reception

A prodigious talent as a teenager,Messi established him-self among the world’s best players before age20.[50] Diego Maradona considered the18-year-old Messi the best player in the world alongside Ronaldinho,while the Brazilian himself,shortly after winning the Ballon d'Or, commented:“I'm not even the best in Bar?a,”in refer-ence to his protégé.[297][298]Four years later,after Messi had won his?rst Ballon d'Or by a record margin,[64]the public debate regarding his qualities as a player moved beyond his status in contemporary football to the possi-

4.3Comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo15

bility that he was the greatest player in history.[7][290][299] An early proponent was his then-manager,Pep Guardi-ola,who had as early as August2009declared Messi to be the best player he had ever seen.[300]In the following years,this opinion gained greater acceptance among pun-dits,managers,former and current players,[104][301][302] and by the end of Bar?a’s second treble-winning season, Messi’s superiority,ahead of Maradona and Pelé,had be-come the predominant view among insiders in continental Europe.[303]A frequent dismissal,however,has centred on the fact that Messi has not won the FIFA World Cup with Argentina,leading some in the sport to instead cite him as the best club player in history.[304][305][306]

“I've seen the player who will inherit my place in Argen-tinian football and his name is Messi.”

—Diego Maradona hails the18-year-old Messi as his successor in February2006.[57]

Throughout his career,Messi has been compared with his compatriot Diego Maradona,due to their similar play-ing styles as diminutive,left-footed dribblers.Initially,he was merely one of many young Argentine players,includ-ing his boyhood idol Pablo Aimar,to receive the"New Maradona"moniker,but as his career progressed,Messi proved his similarity beyond all previous contenders,es-tablishing himself as the greatest player Argentina had produced since Maradona.[15][239]Jorge Valdano,who won the1986World Cup alongside Maradona,said in October2013:“Messi is Maradona every day.For the last?ve years,Messi has been the Maradona of the World Cup in Mexico.”[307]César Menotti,who as manager or-chestrated their1978World Cup victory,echoed this sen-timent when he opined that Messi plays“at the level of the best Maradona.”[308]Other notable Argentines in the sport,such as Osvaldo Ardiles,Javier Zanetti,and Diego Simeone,have expressed their belief that Messi has over-taken Maradona as the best player in history.[309][310][311] In Argentine society,Messi is generally held in lesser esteem than Maradona,a consequence of not only his uneven performances with the national team,but also of di?erences in class,personality,and background. Messi is in some ways the antithesis of his predecessor: where Maradona was an extroverted,controversial char-acter who rose to greatness from the slums,Messi is re-served and unassuming,an unremarkable man outside of football.[211][312][313]An enduring mark against him is the fact that,although through no fault of his own,he never proved himself in the Argentine Primera División as an upcoming player,achieving stardom overseas from a young age,[11][211]while his lack of outward passion for the Albiceleste shirt—he does not sing the national anthem and is disinclined to emotional displays—have in the past led to the false perception that he felt Cata-lan rather than truly Argentine.[246][247]Despite having lived in Spain since age13,Messi has said:“Argentina is my country,my family,my way of expressing myself.

I would change all my records to make the people in

my Messi,pictured here before a friendly match in February2011, has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo(left)for much of their careers.

country happy.”[314]

4.3Comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo Main article:Messi–Ronaldo rivalry

Among his contemporary peers,Messi is most of-ten compared and contrasted with Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo,as part of an ongoing rivalry that has been compared to past sports rivalries like the Muhammad Ali–Joe Frazier rivalry in boxing,the Bj?rn Borg–John McEnroe rivalry in tennis,and the Ayrton Senna–Alain Prost rivalry from Formula One.[315][316] Although Messi has at times denied any rivalry,[317][318] they are widely believed to push one another in their aim to be the best player in the world:[154]since2008,Ronaldo has won three Ballons d'Or to Messi’s?ve,and four European Golden Shoes to Messi’s three.[319][320]Pun-dits and fans regularly argue the individual merits of both players;[154][321]beyond their playing styles,the debate also revolves around their di?ering physiques—Ronaldo is1.86m(6ft1in)with a muscular build—and contrast-ing public personalities,with Ronaldo’s self-con?dence and theatrics a foil to Messi’s humility.[322][323][324]Messi faces Ronaldo at least twice every season in El Clásico, which ranks among the world’s most viewed annual sports events.[325]O?the pitch,Ronaldo is his direct competi-tor in terms of salary,sponsorships,and social media

166PERSONAL LIFE

fanbase.[325]

5In popular culture

“That is me and Messi.We’re right up there.Absolutely.”—US president Barack Obama when given an honorary number 10jersey at the White House .[326]

According to France Football ,Messi was the world’s highest-paid footballer for ?ve years out of six between 2009and 2014;he was the ?rst player to exceed the €40million benchmark,with earnings of €41million in 2013,and the €50–€60million points,with income of €65million in 2014.[162][327]In 2016,Messi was sec-ond on Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid athletes (after Cristiano Ronaldo)with income of $81.4million from his salary and endorsements in 2015–16.[328]Since 2008,he has been Barcelona’s highest-paid player,re-ceiving a salary that increased incrementally from €7.8million to €13million over the next ?ve years.[70][71][138]His current salary of €20million net (€36million be-fore taxes),established in 2014,is the highest ever in the sport.[162]In addition to his salary and multimillion-euro bonuses,much of his income derives from endorsements;SportsPro has consequently cited him as one of the world’s most marketable athletes every year since their research began in 2010.[329]His main sponsor since 2006is the sportswear company Adidas .As Bar?a’s leading youth prospect,he had been signed with Nike since age 14,but transferred to Adidas after they successfully challenged their rival’s claim to his image rights in court.[330]Over time,Messi established himself as their leading brand endorser;[325]from 2008,he had a long-running signature collection of Adidas F50boots,and in 2015,he became the ?rst footballer to receive his own sub-brand of boots,the Adidas Messi.

[331][332]

A mural of Messi’s likeness in the San Siro district of Milan,pho-tographed in 2013

As a commercial entity,Messi’s marketing brand has been based exclusively on his talents and achievements as a player,in contrast to arguably more glamorous play-

ers like Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham .At the start of his career,he thus mainly held sponsorship con-tracts with companies that employ sports-oriented mar-keting,such as Adidas,Pepsi ,and Konami .[333][334]From 2010onwards,concurrently with his increased achieve-ments as a player,his marketing appeal widened,lead-ing to long-term endorsement deals with luxury brands Dolce &Gabbana and Audemars Piguet .[333][335][336]Messi is also a global brand ambassador for Gillette ,Turkish Airlines ,Ooredoo ,and Tata Motors ,among other companies.[337][338][339][340]Additionally,Messi was the face of Konami’s video game series Pro Evolu-tion Soccer ,appearing on the covers of PES 2009,PES 2010,and PES 2011.He subsequently signed with rival company EA Sports to become the face of their series FIFA and has since appeared on four consecutive covers from FIFA 13to FIFA 16.[341][342]

Messi’s global popularity and in?uence are well docu-mented.He was among the Time 100,an annual list of the world’s most in?uential people as published by Time ,in 2011and 2012.[343][344]His fanbase on the social me-dia website Facebook is among the largest of all public ?gures:within seven hours of its launch in April 2011,his Facebook page had nearly seven million followers,and by November 2013,he had become only the second sportsperson,after Cristiano Ronaldo,to amass over 50million followers.[324][345][346]According to a 2014survey by sports research ?rm Repucom in 15international mar-kets,Messi was familiar to 87%of respondents around the world,of whom 78%perceived him favourably,mak-ing him the second-most recognized player globally,be-hind Ronaldo,and the most likable of all contemporary players.[347][348]

Other events have illustrated Messi’s presence in popu-lar culture.A solid gold replica of his left foot,weigh-ing 25kg (55lb)and valued at $5.25million,went on sale in Japan in March 2013to raise funds for vic-tims of the 2011Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami .[349]A 2013Turkish Airlines advertisement starring Messi,in which he engages in a sel?e competition with Los An-geles Lakers star Kobe Bryant ,was the most-watched ad on YouTube in the year of its release,receiving 137mil-lion views,and was subsequently voted the best advertise-ment of the 2005–15decade to commemorate YouTube’s founding.[350][351]World Press Photo selected “The Final Game”,a photograph of Messi facing the World Cup tro-phy after Argentina’s ?nal defeat to Germany,as the best sports image of 2014.[352]Messi ,a documentary about his life by ?lmmaker álex de la Iglesia ,premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August 2014.[353]

6Personal life

6.2Charity 17

6.1Family and relationships

Since 2008,when he was 20,Messi has been in a re-lationship with Antonella Roccuzzo,a fellow native of Rosario .He has known Roccuzzo since he was ?ve years old,as she is the cousin of his best friend since childhood,Lucas Scaglia ,who is also a football player.After keep-ing their relationship private for a year,Messi ?rst con-?rmed their romance in an interview in January 2009,before going public a month later during a carnival in Sitges after the Barcelona–Espanyol derby.He had pre-viously been romantically linked with Argentine models Macarena Lemos and Luciana Salazar .

[354]

Messi pictured in July 2014

Messi and Roccuzzo have two sons:Thiago (born 2012)and Mateo (born 2015).To celebrate his partner’s ?rst pregnancy,Messi placed the ball under his shirt after scoring in Argentina’s 4–0win against Ecuador on 2June 2012,before con?rming the pregnancy in an interview two weeks later.[355]Thiago was born in Barcelona on 2November 2012,with Messi attending the birth after be-ing given permission by Barcelona to miss training.He announced his son’s arrival on his Facebook page,writ-ing:“Today I am the happiest man in the world,my son was born and thanks to God for this gift!"[356]Thiago’s name and handprints are tattooed on his left calf.[141]In April 2015,Messi con?rmed on Facebook that they were expecting another child.[357]He missed training ahead of a match against Atlético Madrid to attend the birth of his second son,Mateo,on 11September 2015in Barcelona.[358]

Messi enjoys a close relationship with his immediate fam-ily members,particularly his mother,Celia,whose face he has tattooed on his left shoulder.His professional af-fairs are largely run as a family business:his father,Jorge,has been his agent since he was 14,and his oldest brother,Rodrigo,handles his daily schedule and publicity.His mother and other brother,Matías,manage his charitable organisation,the Leo Messi Foundation,and take care of personal and professional matters in Rosario.[359]

Since leaving for Spain at age 13,Messi has maintained close ties to his hometown of Rosario,even preserving his distinct Rosarino accent.He has kept ownership of his family’s old house,although it has long stood empty;he maintains a penthouse apartment in an exclusive resi-dential building for his mother,as well as a family com-pound just outside the city.Once when he was in train-ing with the national team in Buenos Aires,he made a three-hour trip by car to Rosario immediately after prac-tice to have dinner with his family,spent the night with them,and returned to Buenos Aires the next day in time for practice.Messi keeps in daily contact via phone and text with a small group of con?dants in Rosario,most of whom were fellow members of “The Machine of '87”at Newell’s Old Boys .Although considered a one-club man ,he has long planned to return to Rosario to end his play-ing career at Newell’s.He was on bad terms with the club after his transfer to Barcelona,but by 2012their public feud had ended,with Newell’s embracing their ties with Messi,even issuing a club membership card to his new-born son.[11][360][361]

6.2Charity

Throughout his career,Messi has been involved in chari-table e?orts aimed at vulnerable children,a commitment that stems in part from the medical di?culties he faced in his own childhood.Since 2004,he has contributed his time and ?nances to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),an organisation with which Barcelona also have a strong association.[362][363]Messi has served as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since his appoint-ment in March 2010,completing his ?rst ?eld mission for the organisation four months later as he travelled to Haiti to bring public awareness to the plight of the coun-try’s children in the wake of the recent earthquake .He has since participated in UNICEF campaigns targeting HIV prevention,education,and the social inclusion of disabled children.[364]To celebrate his son’s ?rst birth-day,in November 2013,Messi and Thiago were part of a publicity campaign to raise awareness of mortality rates among disadvantaged children.[365]

In addition to his work with UNICEF,Messi founded his own charitable organisation,the Leo Messi Foundation,which supports access to health care,education,and sport for children.[366]It was established in 2007following 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

188HONOURS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

society.[360]Through his foundation,Messi has awarded research grants,?nanced medical training,and invested in the development of medical centres and projects in Ar-gentina,Spain,and elsewhere in the world.[360][367]In ad-dition to his own fundraising activities,such as his global “Messi and Friends”football matches,his foundation re-ceives?nancial support from various companies to which he has assigned his name in endorsement agreements, with Adidas as their main sponsor.[368][369]

Messi has also invested in youth football in Argentina: he?nancially supports Sarmiento,a football club based in the Rosario neighbourhood where he was born,com-mitting in2013to the refurbishment of their facilities and the installation of all-weather pitches,and funds the management of several youth players at Newell’s Old Boys and rival club Rosario Central,as well as at River Plate and Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires.[360]At Newell’s Old Boys,his boyhood club,he funded the2012con-struction of a new gymnasium and a dormitory inside the club’s stadium for their youth academy.His former youth coach at Newell’s,Ernesto Vecchio,is employed by the Leo Messi Foundation as a talent scout for young players.[11]In February2016,Messi utilized social me-dia and UNICEF to track down an Afghanistani boy in a photo that went viral,which showed him wearing a homemade shirt made from a striped blue plastic bag with “Messi10”etched on the back,imitating the Argentina strip.[370]

6.3Legal issues

His?nancial a?airs came under investigation in2013for suspected tax evasion.O?shore companies in tax havens Uruguay and Belize were allegedly used to evade€4.1 million in taxes related to sponsorship earnings between 2007and2009.An unrelated shell company in Panama, set up in2012,was subsequently identi?ed as belonging to the Messis in the Panama Papers data leak.Messi,who has pleaded ignorance of the alleged scheme,voluntarily paid arrears of€5.1million in August2013.He stood trial alongside his father on three counts of tax evasion in May2016.[371]

7Career statistics

7.1Club

As of22May2016

Notes

[1]One appearance in UEFA Super Cup,two appearances in

Supercopa de Espa?a

[2]One appearance in UEFA Super Cup,one appearance and

two goals in Supercopa de Espa?a,two appearances and two goals in FIFA Club World Cup

[3]Appearances in Supercopa de Espa?a

[4]One appearance and one goal in UEFA Super Cup,two

appearances and three goals in Supercopa de Espa?a,two appearances and two goals in FIFA Club World Cup [5]One appearance and two goals in UEFA Super Cup,two

appearances and one goal in Supercopa de Espa?a,one appearance and one goal in FIFA Club World Cup

7.2International

See also:List of international goals scored by Lionel Messi

As of10June2016

Notes

[1]Nine appearances and?ve goals in South American Youth

Football Championship,seven appearances and six goals in FIFA World Youth Championship

[2]Appearances in Summer Olympics

[3]Appearances in FIFA World Cup quali?cation

[4]Appearances in FIFA World Cup

[5]Six appearances and two goals in Copa América,four ap-

pearances and two goals in FIFA World Cup quali?cation [6]Four appearances in Copa América,four appearances and

two goals in FIFA World Cup quali?cation

[7]Appearances in Copa América

[8]Two appearances and one goal in FIFA World Cup quali-

?cation,one appearance and three goals in Copa América 8Honours and achievements

8.1Club

?La Liga:2004–05,2005–06,2008–09,2009–10, 2010–11,2012–13,2014–15,2015–16

?Copa del Rey:2008–09,2011–12,2014–15,2015–16

?Supercopa de Espa?a:2005,2006,2009,2010, 2011,2013

?UEFA Champions League:2005–06,2008–09, 2010–11,2014–15

?UEFA Super Cup:2009,2011,2015

?FIFA Club World Cup:2009,2011,2015[375]

8.3Individual19

8.2International

?FIFA World Youth Championship:2005?Olympic Gold Medal:2008

?Runner-up FIFA World Cup:2014[375][376]?Runner-up Copa América:2007,2015

8.3Individual

8.3.1Awards

?Ballon d'Or:2009[377]

?FIFA World Player of the Year:2009[377]?UEFA Club Footballer of the Year:2009[378]?UEFA Club Forward of the Year:2009[378]?FIFA Ballon d'Or:2010,2011,2012,2015[377]?IFFHS World’s Best Top Goalscorer:2011, 2012[379]

?IFFHS World’s Best Top Division Goalscorer: 2012,2013[379]

?IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker:2015[380]?UEFA Best Player in Europe:2011,2015[190]?European Golden Shoe:2010,2012,2013[149]?La Liga Best Player:2009,2010,2011,2012,2013, 2015[381][382][383]

?La Liga Best Forward:2009,2010,2011,2012, 2013,2015[381][382][383]

?La Liga Player of the Month:January2016[384]?Olimpia de Plata(Argentine Footballer of the Year): 2005,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013, 2015[381][385]

?Olimpia de Oro(Argentine Sportsperson of the Year):2011[381]

?FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball:2009,2011[386]?FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball:2015[387]?FIFA World Cup Golden Ball:2014[388]?Copa América Most Valuable Player:2015 (rejected)[277]

?FIFA FIFPro World XI:2007,2008,2009,2010, 2011,2012,2013,2014,2015[389][390]?UEFA Team of the Year:2008,2009,2010,2011, 2012,2014,2015[378][391]

?La Liga Team of the Year:2015[392]

?AFA Team of All Time(published2015)[393]?FIFA World Cup Dream Team:2014[394]?Copa América Dream Team:2007,2011, 2015[395][396][397]

?UEFA Goal of the Year:2007,2015[381][185]?Copa América Best Goal:2007[398][399]?FIFPro Young World Player of the Year:2006, 2007,2008[389]

?Golden Boy(Young European Footballer of the Year):2005[47]

?FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Ball: 2005[400]

?FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Shoe: 2005[400]

?Copa América Best Young Player:2007[389]

8.3.2Performances

?La Liga top goalscorer:2009–10,2011–12,2012–13[401]

?La Liga top assist provider:2010–11,2014–15, 2015–16[402]

?Copa del Rey top goalscorer:2008–09,2010–11, 2013–14,2015–16[403]

?UEFA Champions League top goalscorer:2008–09, 2009–10,2010–11,2011–12,2014–15[404]

?UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2011–12,2014–15[405]

?FIFA Club World Cup top goalscorer:2011[406]?FIFA World Youth Championship top goalscorer: 2005[214]

?Copa América top assist provider:2011, 2015[396][407]

8.3.3Records

As of12March2016

?Most FIFA Ballons d'Or:5(2009–12, 2015)[note4][408]

?Most consecutive FIFA Ballons d'Or:4[409]?Youngest two-time and three-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner:23and24years old[409]

2010REFERENCES

?Most UEFA Best Player in Europe awards:3(2009, 2011,2015)[note4][190][410]

?Most La Liga Best Player awards:6(2009–13, 2015)[note4][411]

?Top goalscorer in La Liga:312goals[412]

?Top assist provider in La Liga:127 assists[note3][179][180]

?Top goalscorer in the Supercopa de Espa?a:11 goals[251]

?Top goalscorer in El Clásico:21goals[157]?Top goalscorer in the Derbi barceloní:16goals[166]?Top goalscorer in the UEFA Super Cup:3goals (shared with Arie Haan,Oleg Blokhin,Gerd Müller,Rob Rensenbrink,Fran?ois Van der Elst,Terry McDermott, and Radamel Falcao)[413]

?Top goalscorer in the FIFA Club World Cup:5goals (shared with César Delgado and Luis Suárez)[414]?Top goalscorer for club and country in a calendar year:91goals in2012[415]

?Top goalscorer in all club competitions in a calendar year:79goals in2012[131][133]

?Top goalscorer in all club competitions in a season: 73goals in2011–12[415][251]

?Longest goalscoring run in a domestic league:21 matches,33goals in2012–13[147][146]

?Top goalscorer in a La Liga season:50goals in 2011–12[416]

?Most hat-tricks scored in a La Liga season:8in 2011–12(shared with Cristiano Ronaldo)[251]?Only player to score consecutively against all opposi-tion teams in La Liga:19matches,30goals in2012–13[140]

?Only player to have won more than one FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball.[417]

?Youngest player to score200goals in La Liga:25 years in2013[418]

?Only player to be top goalscorer in?ve UEFA Champions League seasons(2008–09to2011–12, 2014–15)[188][189]

?Only player to be top goalscorer in four consecutive UEFA Champions League seasons[251]

?Most hat-tricks scored in the UEFA Champions League:5[419]

?Most goals scored in a UEFA Champions League match:5in2012(shared with Luiz Adriano)[420]

?Youngest player to make100appearances in the UEFA Champions League:28years,84days in 2015[421]

?Most titles won with Barcelona:28(shared with Andrés Iniesta)[422]

?Top goalscorer for Barcelona in o?cial competi-tions:448goals[423]

?Top goalscorer for Barcelona including friendlies: 477goals[423]

?Top goalscorer for Barcelona in the UEFA Champi-ons League:82goals[423]

?Most hat-tricks scored in all competitions by a Barcelona player:35[177]

?Most hat-tricks scored in La Liga by a Barcelona player:26[424]

?Only Barcelona player to be top goalscorer in three La Liga seasons(2009–10,2011–12,2012–13)[423]

?Top goalscorer for Argentina in a calendar year:12 goals in2012(shared with Gabriel Batistuta)[251]

?Youngest player to play for Argentina in a FIFA World Cup:18years,357days in2006[221]?Youngest player to score for Argentina in a FIFA World Cup:18years,357days in2006[221]

?Youngest player to reach100caps for a country un-der CONMEBOL's jurisdiction:27years,361days in2015[425]

9See also

?List of people named in the Panama Papers

10References

Notes

[1]According to his club’s o?cial website,

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/6114653391.html,,and his authorised biography, Messi by Guillem Balagué,his surname is the single “Messi”,in accordance with Argentine customs.[1][2] Other sources,including a2014document by FIFA,give his surname as the double“Messi Cuccittini”.[3]

[2]In addition to four FIFA Ballons d'Or,Messi received

France Football's Ballon d'Or and FIFA's World Player of the Year award prior to their fusion;both organisations credit him with?ve(FIFA)Ballons d'Or.[4][5]

[3]Assist statistics began in1990.