[619] To celebrate his son's first birthday, in November 2013, Messi and Thiago were part of a publicity campaign to raise awareness of mortality rates among disadvantaged children. [458], In the third-place match against Chile on 6 July, Messi set-up Agero's opening goal from a free kick in an eventual 21 win, to help Argentina capture the bronze medal; however, he was sent off along with Gary Medel in the 37th minute of play, after being involved in an altercation with the Chilean defender. [598][599] In August 2022, Messi was urged by the family of Mohammed al Faraj to intervene on their son's behalf after he was arrested in 2017 at the age of 15 for crimes against the Saudi regime and faced the death penalty. Messi scored Argentina's first goal in the shoot-out, with Argentina eventually winning 42, ending the nation's 36-year wait for the trophy. You go around the world and people say, 'he's the top scorer for the Argentina national team.' [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. [96][99], Messi secured Barcelona's first trophy of the 201011 campaign, the Supercopa de Espaa, by scoring a hat-trick in his side's second-leg 40 victory over Sevilla, after a first-leg defeat. ", "How Does Lionel Messi Stack up against Football Legends? [382] Football journalist Tim Vickery states the view among Argentines is that Messi "was always seen as more Catalan than one of them". Messi helped Argentina reach the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals, where the team was eliminated by Germany for the second consecutive time in World Cup play. [339], After adjusting to his new surroundings and settling in Paris, under new coach Christophe Galtier, Messi returned to his preferred free attacking role; being placed in his favoured position as the playmaker behind two strikers, in a attacking trident with Neymar and Kylian Mbapp, quickly regaining his form from his previous season by starting off the new season on 31 July by scoring PSG's first goal in a 40 victory over Nantes in the Trophe des Champions, winning his second trophy with PSG. He was subsequently included in the squad for the South American Youth Championship, held in Colombia in February 2005. "[546] Moreover, several pundits and footballing figures, including Maradona, questioned Messi's leadership with Argentina at times, despite his playing ability. Benfica's greatest ever player. An Argentine international, Messi is the country's all-time leading goalscorer and also holds the national record for appearances. [57][58] Already an idol to the culs, the club's supporters, he scored 17 goals in 36 games across all competitions. [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. [202], "[Messi] is indispensable, but the rest of us are dispensable. His first goal was also his 10th league goal of the season, making him the first player ever to reach double figures in La Liga for 13 consecutive seasons. 896 j'aime,34 commentaires.Vido TikTok de (@brutally.aep) : Pessi #brutally.ae #messi #barcelona #liverpool #xybzca #football #fyp . He played forFC Barcelonas under-14 team, quickly graduating through the higher-level teams until his informal debut at age 16 with FC Barcelona in a friendly match. [632], Messi's financial affairs came under investigation in 2013 for suspected tax evasion. The 35-year-old beat French forwards Kylian Mbappe and . [17][20] In February 2001, the family relocated to Barcelona, where they moved into an apartment near the club's stadium, Camp Nou. Mohammad Amir. In the World Cup final, Messi scored twice as Argentina and France played out a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time before Argentina triumphed on penalties. [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. I always wanted to score a beautiful goal. [65] During a Copa del Rey semi-final against Getafe on 18 April, he scored a goal remarkably similar to Maradona's second goal in the quarter-finals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup, known as the Goal of the Century. A month later, on 6 March, he made his debut for Barcelona B in the Segunda Divisin B, and his buyout clause automatically increased to 80million. [323] He made his first start and Champions League debut for the club in a 11 away draw against Club Brugge on 15 September. Messis phenomenal skills garnered the attention of prestigious clubs on both sides of the Atlantic. Now playing in all competitions, he befriended his teammates, among whom were Cesc Fbregas and Gerard Piqu. I try to improve my game in every way possible." 12. [194] On 3 February, he scored a hat-trick in Barcelona's 70 win against Valencia in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at the Camp Nou. Follow Us. Later that year, Messi became the second footballer and second team-sport athlete to surpass $1billion in career earnings. The joke refers to some made-up notion that Lionel Messi has somehow padded his stats with lots of penalties, and therefore isn't as good as the numbers make it seem. 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. Dutch association football player and manager. [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. At that point, he effectively became the tactical focal point of Guardiola's team, and his goalscoring rate increased. He appeared to score a goal, but it was contentiously ruled offside, with the team needing a late goal in extra time to proceed. [357][384], Under Sabella, Messi's goalscoring rate drastically increased; where he had scored only 17 goals in 61 matches under his previous managers, he scored 25 times in 32 appearances during the following three years. 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. [165] A hat-trick scored against Sevilla on 22 November made him the all-time top scorer in La Liga, as he surpassed the 59-year record of 251 league goals held by Telmo Zarra. [382][383] Although Messi scored a record 53 goals during the 201011 club season, he had not scored for Argentina in an official match since March 2009. According to FCBarcelona.com, and his authorised biography, most appearances in World Cup tournaments, List of international goals scored by Lionel Messi, List of career achievements by Lionel Messi, European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics, List of FC Barcelona records and statistics, List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals, List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps, List of men's footballers with 500 or more goals, List of men's footballers with the most official appearances, List of top international men's football goalscorers by country, List of players who have appeared in multiple FIFA World Cups, "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: List of Players: Argentina", "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players", "Messi donates to charity after libel case win", "Messi, Lloyd, Luis Enrique and Ellis Triumph at FIFA Ballon d'Or 2015", "Messi | Ficha del jugador 20/21 | Delantero", "Here and Gone: The Strange Relationship between Lionel Messi and His Hometown in Argentina", "Pablo Aimar: The Argentinian Wizard Admired by Maradona and Messi", "Lionel Messi: How Argentinian Teenager Signed for Barcelona on a Serviette", "Lionel Messi Could Have Joined Arsenal as a Teenager, Says Arsne Wenger", "The best quotes about Lionel Messi's 10 years at Barcelona", "All time stats for Messi in the Bara youth teams", "Ex-Teammate, La Masia Coach Recall Lionel Messi's Early Days, Persona", "Giuly remembers the first time he saw Messi 'kill' his team-mates", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 200304", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 200405", "Messi Has All the Qualities to Take World by Storm", "Messi, Iniesta and Xavi Driven to Join the Champions League Elite", "Joan Laporta: 'Barcelona has been kidnapped. [449] In March 2019, however, he was called up to the Argentina squad once again for the team's friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco later that month. The goal was his seventh of the league season and his twelfth overall, surpassing his total output of the prior season in just 18 matches. He missed several opportunities to open the scoring throughout the match, in particular at the start of the second half when his breakaway effort went wide of the far post. Latest version. To combat the problem, the club implemented new training, nutrition, and lifestyle regimens, and assigned him a personal physiotherapist, who would travel with him during call-ups for the Argentina national team. "[54] After he had scored 8 goals in 25 games, including his first in the Champions League,[55] in a 50 win over Panathinaikos on 2 November 2005,[56] his season ended prematurely during the return leg against Chelsea on 7 March 2006, when he suffered a torn hamstring. [17][70][71] His efforts in 2007 also earned him award recognition; journalists voted him the third-best player of the year for the 2007 Ballon d'Or, behind Kak and 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 Kak. [606] In April 2015, Messi confirmed that they were expecting another child. [357][402], As Messi evolved from the team's symbolic captain into a genuine leader, he led Argentina to the knockout stage as group winners. [455] Following Argentina's 20 defeat to hosts Brazil in the semi-finals on 2 July, Messi was critical of the refereeing during the match,[456][457] and alleged the competition was "set up" for Brazil to win. [264][265], Messi made his first appearance of the season on 17 September, and on 6 October he scored his first goal of the season with a free kick in a 40 home win over Sevilla; this was his 420th goal in La Liga, which saw him break Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 419 goals scored in Europe's top five leagues. In addition to earning a football salary that was frequently, with Ronaldos, one of the two largest athletes salaries in all professional sports, he was an extremely successful product pitchman, notably for the sportswear company Adidas. [86] With 23 league goals from Messi that season, Barcelona became La Liga champions three days later and achieved its fifth double. Modified Jun 12, 2022 22:04 IST. [348], As a dual Argentine-Spanish national, Messi was eligible to play for the national team of both countries. Messi is in some ways the antithesis of his predecessor: where Maradona was an extroverted, controversial character who rose to greatness from the slums, Messi is reserved and unassuming, an unremarkable man outside of football. [382], Maradona was replaced by Sergio Batista, who had orchestrated Argentina's Olympic victory. His 46 La Liga goals in 201213 led the league, and Barcelona captured another domestic top-division championship that season. [500][508][512] Widely considered to be the best dribbler in the world,[513] and one of the greatest dribblers of all time,[514] with regard to this ability, 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. Lionel Messi (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo (right) are two of the greatest . Lionel Messi has been named the mens footballer of the year at The Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. [566], In addition to his salary and 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. After being named man of the match against Venezuela, he scored the winning 21 goal in the crucial last match against Brazil, thereby securing their third-place qualification for the FIFA World Youth Championship. [433], "The squad is the worst in their history. [346] Four days later, Messi scored and provided an assist as PSG won 43 against Troyes to remain top of the Ligue 1 table. - . [195] In a 61 home win against Celta Vigo in the league, Messi assisted Surez from a penalty kick. [504] He has often been described as a magician; a conjurer, creating goals and opportunities where seemingly none exist. [213] On 11 January, Messi scored from a free-kick in Barcelona's 31 victory against Athletic Bilbao in the second leg of the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, which enabled Barcelona to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition; with his 26th goal from a free-kick for Barcelona in all competitions, he equalled the club's all-time record, which had previously been set by Ronald Koeman. I stood up tall, I put my chest out. [145] Since his evolution into a false nine three years earlier, his input into the team's attack had increased; from 24% in their treble-winning campaign, his goal contribution rose to more than 40% that season. [565] His buyout clause was set at $835million (700million). [78], His team's prosperity continued into the second half of 2009, as Barcelona became the first club to achieve the sextuple, winning six top-tier trophies in a single year. [82][87], As the season's Champions League top scorer with nine goals, the youngest in the tournament's history,[88] Messi scored two goals and assisted two more to ensure a 40 quarter-final victory over Bayern Munich. Good luck! [170][171] From there, he regained his best form, while Surez and Neymar ended the team's attacking dependency on their star player. [462] On 15 November, Messi played in the 2019 Superclsico de las Amricas versus Brazil, scoring the winning goal by a rebound of his saved penalty. Billiards game with pretty good 3D graphics. 6. [157] Since 2008, Messi has won seven Ballons d'Or to Ronaldo's five,[554] six FIFA World's Best Player awards to Ronaldo's five, and six European Golden Shoes to Ronaldo's four. [359] As their progression to the knockout phase was secured, several starters were rested during the last group match. [62] In the league, his goal contribution increased towards the end of the season; 11 of his 14 goals came from the last 13 games. Don't be fooled: it's utterly ridiculous. ", Newell's Old Boys youth coach Adrin Coria shares his first impression of the 12-year-old Messi. A turning point came on 11 January during a 31 victory over Atltico Madrid, the first time Bara's attacking trident of Messi, Luis Surez and Neymar, dubbed "MSN", each scored in a match, marking the beginning of a highly successful run. [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. The Catalans are not in favour of signing Georginio Wijnaldum despite the latter's free-agent status, the source adds. Using our unique search, comparison and ranking tools, FC . 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 13 to FIFA 16. Against the Netherlands, he again scored the first goal and assisted a second strike to help his team to a 21 win in extra time. At the start of the tournament, however, he gave strong performances, being elected man of the match in their first four matches. He also functions in a playmaking role, courtesy of his vision and range of passing. 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. [378], Despite their poor qualifying campaign, Argentina were considered title contenders at the World Cup in South Africa. An unrelated shell company in Panama set up in 2012 was subsequently identified as belonging to the Messis in the Panama Papers data leak. [42][43] Messi made his league debut during the next match on 16 October, against Espanyol, coming on in the 82nd minute. [156], During the second half of the 201314 season, doubts persisted over Messi's form, leading to a perception among the culs that he was reserving himself for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. National team coaches and captains, as well as a worldwide panel of journalists and supporters, vote on the awards each year. [75] He returned to score twice in their away victory against Celtic in the last 16 round of the Champions League, becoming the competition's top scorer at that point with six goals,[76] but reinjured himself during the return leg on 4 March 2008. However, their performances deteriorated in the second half of the 201213 campaign, concurrently with Vilanova's absence due to ill health. I was just so, so happy.. He's [like] a PlayStation. [254] In the return leg six days later at Anfield, Barcelona suffered a 40 away defeat, which saw Liverpool advance to the final 43 on aggregate. [522][523], As his career advanced, and his tendency to dribble diminished slightly with age, Messi began to dictate play in deeper areas of the pitch and developed into one of the best passers and playmakers in football history. [322], Messi made his debut for the club on 29 August, coming on as a substitute in the second half of a 20 away win over Reims in Ligue 1. He still felt the need to take Saudi money", "Messi Is Accused of Being the Face of a Blood-Soaked Regime", "Lionel Messi urged to intervene in case of youth facing Saudi death sentence", "Lionel Messi's wife explains her absence at World Cup opener that left him broken hearted", "Argentina hosts Lionel Messi's 'wedding of the century', "Antonela Roccuzzo the first lady of Argentinean football", "The Machine of '87: Messi's Boyhood Teammates Recall Early Signs of Greatness", "Lionel Messi's Wife Expecting Second Child, Barcelona Star Says", "Lionel Messi marries stunning childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo in Argentine home town", "Lionel Messi and wife Antonella Roccuzzo expecting their third child", "A Messi situation: Examining the faith of the world's greatest soccer player", "After Just 72 Hours on the Planet, Thiago Messi Signs for Newell's Old Boys", "Lionel Messi reaffirms desire to return to Newell's Old Boys before retirement", "Leo Messi, llamado a votar en las prximas elecciones italianas", "Barcelona's Lionel Messi talks family, favourite foods and quirky habits", "Barcelona Extend UNICEF Shirt Deal to 2016", "Leo Messi's Son Turns One and Celebrates with UNICEF", "Ooredoo, Messi Foundation Continue Expansion: Three New Mobile Health Clinics Launched in Algeria", "Argentina's Lionel Messi wins libel case, donates damages to charity", "Messi, Guardiola donate $1.08 million each to coronavirus battle", "Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi donate to hospitals in fight against coronavirus", "Lionel Messi's Coronavirus Wage Cut Could Cost Him $50 Million", "Argentina federation to have affairs managed by emergency FIFA panel", "Messi paid the salaries of Argentina's security team", "Adidas and Messi donate boots to Art Museum to be auctioned in April", "Lionel Messi helps obtain 50,000 Covid vaccines for South American players", "Messi, father guilty of tax fraud, given suspended 21-month sentences", "Barcelona's Lionel Messi in tax court: I played football and trusted my father", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 201415", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 201516", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 201617", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 201718", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 201819", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 201920", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 202021", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 202122", "Lionel Andrs Messi Cuccittini: Matches 202223", "La seleccin catalana pierde ante Argentina (01) en un partido marcado por la poltica", "Catalonia and Basque Country reignite call for independent national football identities", "Argentina's Lionel Messi: World Cup goals, stats and career highlights", "Messi wins Best Fifa men's player award", "Palmars de un Genio: El Coleccionista de Trofeos", "Lionel Messi, 201415 Liga BBVA Best Player", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lionel_Messi&oldid=1142234186, *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:12, 26 February 2023 (UTC), This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 06:59. [429], On 28 March 2017, Messi was suspended for four international games for insulting an assistant referee in a game against Chile on 23 March 2017. Kevin De Bruyne. [357][387] Concurrently with his bettered performances, his relationship with his compatriots improved, as he gradually began to be perceived more favourably in Argentina. 1995 Uruguay. He scored 42 non-penalty goals. [407], Messi's place in Argentina's Copa Amrica Centenario squad was initially put in jeopardy when he sustained a back injury in a 10 friendly win over Honduras in a pre-Copa Amrica warm-up match on 27 May 2016. [571] In 2015, a Barcelona jersey with Messi's name and number was the best-selling replica jersey worldwide. Five of Messi's six PSG goals in 2021 came in the Champions League, with just one in Ligue 1, though all four of his assists arrived in domestic competition. Omissions? "[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". [201] In total, Messi scored 41 goals as Barcelona's attacking trio managed a Spanish record of 131 goals throughout the season, breaking the record they had set the previous season. [466] On 21 June, Messi played in his 147th match as he equalled Javier Mascherano's record for most appearances for Argentina in a 10 win over Paraguay in their third game of the tournament. A little, yes. Ahead of the final, he was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. [574][576] Messi is also a global brand ambassador for Gillette, Turkish Airlines, Ooredoo, and Tata Motors, among other companies. Some saw it as "a touch of genius", while others criticised it as being disrespectful to the opponent. But above all, congratulations on your beautiful career at Barcelona. *Club domestic league appearances and goals. Endocrinologist Diego Schwarzstein,[note 4] who addressed Messi's growth hormone deficiency from 1997 to 2001. Pessifandogs are Brainless [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. For the last five years, Messi has been the Maradona of the World Cup in Mexico. The former Barcelona forward was in fine form during the World Cup, scoring seven goals and claiming three assists in seven games. Maradona was criticised for his strategic decisions, which included playing Messi out of his usual position. [557][558][559] From 200910 to 201718, Messi faced Ronaldo at least twice every season in El Clsico, which ranks among the world's most viewed annual sports events. [435][436] Prior to Argentina's opener, there was speculation in the media over whether this would be Messi's final World Cup. [600], Since 2008, Messi has been in a relationship with Antonela Roccuzzo, a fellow native of Rosario. But the only true challenger to "Pessi" in global Twitter trends is of course Cristiano Ronaldo, with "Penaldo" again originating from Messi superfans taking potshots at their arch-rival. [567] His main sponsor since 2006 is the sportswear company Adidas. [482] In the semi-final against Croatia, Messi made a record-equalling 25th World Cup finals appearance, drawing level with Germany's Lothar Matthus, and scored the opening goal with a penalty before he assisted Argentina's third goal scored by Julin lvarez in a 30 win;[483] with his 11th World Cup goal, Messi overtook Batistuta to become Argentina's alltime topscorer at the World Cup. Try a week on us. [614] Messi holds triple citizenship, as he is a citizen of Argentina, Italy, and Spain. Messi started playing football as a boy and in 1995 joined the youth team of Newells Old Boys (a Rosario-based top-division football club). In late 2019 he won his sixth career Ballon dOr and was named FIFAs best male player of the year. During his first year in Spain, Messi rarely played with the Infantiles due to a transfer conflict with Newell's; as a foreigner, he could only be fielded in friendlies and the Catalan league. [432] Argentina's place in the 2018 World Cup was in jeopardy going into their final qualifying match as they were sixth in their group, outside the five possible CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying spots, meaning they risked failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1970. [224] On 19 September, Messi found the net four times in a 61 trashing of Eibar at the Camp Nou in La Liga. Messi has scored over 795 senior career goals for club and country, and has the most goals by a player for a single club (672). "[43] 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 finish and provide passes and assists. There he guided Argentina to the finals, where he scored two goalsand made a penalty kick during the shootoutto help defeat France. [177][178][179] Messi scored twice as Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 31 in the Copa del Rey final on 30 May, achieving the sixth double in their history. 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. [277] On 11 July, Messi provided his 20th assist of the league season for Arturo Vidal in a 10 away win over Real Valladolid, equalling Xavi's record of 20 assists in a single La Liga season from 2008 to 2009;[278][279] with 22 goals, he also became only the second player ever, after Thierry Henry in the 200203 FA Premier League season with Arsenal (24 goals and 20 assists), to record at least 20 goals and 20 assists in a single league season in one of Europe's top-five leagues. [403] In the quarter-final, they created numerous chances, including a rebound header by Messi, but were repeatedly denied by Colombia's goalkeeper, and ultimately ended the match scoreless, leading to a 54 penalty shootout in their favour, with Messi netting his team's first spot kick. [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. [154][155] Despite his injuries, he was voted runner-up for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, relinquishing the award after a four-year monopoly to Cristiano Ronaldo. Lionel Messi was presented the award by Fifa president Gianni Infantino. [430][431] On 5 May, Messi's four match ban as well as his 10,000 CHF fine was lifted by FIFA after Argentina Football Association appealed against his suspension, which meant he could now play Argentina's remaining World Cup Qualifiers. ", "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. [132][133], Under manager Tito Vilanova, who had first coached him aged 14 at La Masia, Messi helped the club achieve its best-ever start to a La Liga season during the second half of 2012, amassing 55 points by the competition's midway point, a record in Spanish football. A starter for the first time, he gave a well-received performance against Fabio Capello's Juventus, receiving an ovation from the Camp Nou. [605] Thiago was born in Barcelona on 2 November 2012. [25] At the close of the season, he received an offer to join Arsenal, his first from a foreign club, but while Fbregas and Piqu soon left for England, he chose to remain in Barcelona. [402] In his 100 appearances, he had scored a total of 46 goals for Argentina, 22 of which came in official competitive matches. [382], After Argentina's unsuccessful performance in the Copa Amrica, Batista was replaced by Alejandro Sabella. [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. [117][118] At the close of the year, on 18 December, he scored twice in the FIFA Club World Cup final, a 40 victory over Santos, earning the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, as he had done two years previously. Second team-sport athlete to surpass $ 1billion in career earnings a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to content. Using our unique search, comparison and ranking tools, FC Diego Schwarzstein [! [ 565 ] his main sponsor Since 2006 is the worst in their.... For suspected tax evasion up in 2012 was subsequently included in the Copa Amrica, Batista was replaced Sergio... In Barcelona on 2 November 2012 Messi was eligible to play for the Argentina national team of countries., 'he 's the top scorer for the national team of both countries in 2015 a. Came under investigation in 2013 for suspected tax evasion Youth coach Adrin shares., Maradona was criticised for his strategic decisions, which included playing Messi out of his vision and range passing... 1997 to 2001 an Argentine international, Messi is the worst in history! In 2012 was subsequently included in the Panama Papers data leak in Colombia in February 2005 absence to. Was the best-selling replica jersey worldwide held in Colombia in February 2005 up against Legends! ( right ) are two of the greatest ever player for the South American Youth Championship, in... Copa Amrica, Batista was replaced by Sergio Batista, who had orchestrated Argentina unsuccessful. He has often been described as a worldwide panel of journalists and supporters, vote on the Awards each.. 202 ], Maradona was replaced by Alejandro Sabella: it 's ridiculous. In career earnings in Colombia in February 2005 was secured, several starters rested. 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