Lionel Messi: Difference between revisions
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| fullname = Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini <ref name="Know More">{{cite news |title=Know More about Messsi |url=http://www.sportsarena.club |publisher=SportsAreana | |
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{{Redirect|Messi|the biopic|Messi (film)}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}} |
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{{Spanish name|Messi|Cuccittini}} |
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{{Infobox football biography |
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| name = Lionel Messi |
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| image = Messi in Germany and Argentina face off in the final of the World Cup 2014 -2014-07-13 (24).jpg |
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| image_size = 252 |
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| caption = Messi playing for [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] in the [[2014 FIFA World Cup Final]] |
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| fullname = Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini<ref name="2014 FIFA World Cup squad lists">{{cite news |title=2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players |url=http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/36/33/44/fwc_2014_squadlists_neutral.pdf |publisher=FIFA |format=PDF |page=2 |date=11 June 2014 |accessdate=15 July 2014 }}</ref> |
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|6|24|df=y}} |
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| birth_place = [[Rosario, Santa Fe|Rosario]], Argentina |
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| height = {{height|m=1.70}}<ref name="barca">{{cite web |title=Messi player page|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/staff/players/messi|publisher=FC Barcelona |accessdate=28 May 2015}}</ref> |
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| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]] |
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| currentclub = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] |
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| clubnumber = 10 |
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| youthyears1 = 1995–2000 |youthclubs1 = [[Newell's Old Boys]] |
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| youthyears2 = 2000–2003 |youthclubs2 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] |
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| years1 = 2003–2004 |clubs1 = [[FC Barcelona C|Barcelona C]] |caps1 = 10 |goals1 = 5 |
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| years2 = 2004–2005 |clubs2 = [[FC Barcelona B|Barcelona B]] |caps2 = 22 |goals2 = 6 |
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| years3 = 2004– |clubs3 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] |caps3 = 315 |goals3 = 286 |
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| nationalyears1 = 2004–2005 |nationalteam1 = [[Argentina national under-20 football team|Argentina U20]] |nationalcaps1 = 18 |nationalgoals1 = 14 |
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| nationalyears2 = 2007–2008 |nationalteam2 = [[Argentina national under-23 football team|Argentina U23]] |nationalcaps2 = 5 |nationalgoals2 = 2 |
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| nationalyears3 = 2005– |nationalteam3 = [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] |nationalcaps3 = 101 |nationalgoals3 = 46 |
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| medaltemplates = |
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{{MedalCountry|{{ARG}}}} |
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{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Football]]}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|[[U-20 South American Championship]]}} |
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{{Medal|3rd|[[2005 South American U-20 Championship|2005 Colombia]]|[[Argentina national under-20 football team|U-20 Team]]}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA U-20 World Cup]]}} |
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{{Medal|Winner|[[2005 FIFA World Youth Championship|2005 Netherlands]]|[[Argentina national under-20 football team|U-20 Team]]}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|[[Copa América]]}} |
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{{Medal|RU|[[2007 Copa América|2007 Venezuela]]|[[Argentina national football team|Team]]}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}} |
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{{MedalGold|[[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2008 Beijing]]|[[Argentina national under-23 football team|Olympic Team]]}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}} |
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{{Medal|RU|[[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 Brazil]]|[[Argentina national football team|Team]]}} |
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| club-update = 23 May 2015 |
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| nationalteam-update = 27 June 2015 |
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}} |
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'''Lionel Andrés''' "'''Leo'''" '''Messi Cuccittini''' ({{IPA-es|ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesi|-|Lionel Andrés Messi - Name.ogg}}; born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays for Spanish club [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and the [[Argentina national football team|Argentina national team]]. He is a [[Forward (association football)|forward]] and serves as [[Captain (association football)|captain]] for Argentina. |
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By the age of 21, Messi had received [[Ballon d'Or]] and [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] nominations. The following year, in 2009, he won his first [[Ballon d'Or 2009|Ballon d'Or]] and [[2009 FIFA World Player of the Year|FIFA World Player of the Year]] awards. He followed this up by winning the inaugural [[FIFA Ballon d'Or]] in [[2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or|2010]], and then again in [[2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or|2011]] and [[2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or|2012]]. He also won the 2010–11 [[UEFA Best Player in Europe Award]]. At the age of 24, Messi became [[List of FC Barcelona records and statistics#Top scorers|Barcelona's all-time top scorer]] in all official club competitions. In September 2014 he scored his 400th senior career goal for club and country aged just 27. In November 2014, Messi became the [[Spanish football top scorers#All time top scorers in La liga|all-time top scorer in La Liga]], and the [[List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League top scorers|all-time leading goalscorer]] in the UEFA Champions League. |
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Often considered the best player in the world and rated by some in the sport as the greatest of all time,<ref>{{cite news|title=Lionel Messi was magnificent against Manchester City... but is the Barcelona star the greatest player you've ever seen? |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3002195/Lionel-Messi-magnificent-against-Manchester-City-Barcelona-star-greatest-player-ve-seen.html |publisher=MailOnline |accessdate=19 March 2015|date=19 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Simunic">{{cite web|title=Simunic: Messi’s the best of all time|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1967479/?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_interview|publisher=FIFA|accessdate=12 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Ben|title=Lionel Messi: Goals record caps golden year for Barcelona star|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20592977|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=12 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="Muller">{{cite news|title=Lionel Messi hailed as 'incredible' and 'gigantic' by Gerd Muller after Barcelona star breaks record for most goals|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/lionel-messi/9734839/Lionel-Messi-hailed-as-incredible-and-gigantic-by-Gerd-Muller-after-Barcelona-star-breaks-record-for-most-goals.html|publisher=Telegraph Sport|accessdate=12 December 2012|location=London|date=10 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="Wenger">{{cite news|title=Arsène Wenger hails Barcelona's Lionel Messi after four-goal display|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/07/barcelona-arsenal-lionel-messi|work=The Guardian|accessdate=12 December 2012|location=London|date=7 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="Beckham">{{cite web|title=David Beckham: Lionel Messi is the best|url=http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1410228/david-beckham:-cristiano-ronaldo-is-not-at-lionel-messi's-level|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=12 April 2013}}</ref> Messi is the first football player in history to win four [[FIFA World Player of the Year|FIFA]]/[[FIFA Ballon d'Or|Ballons d'Or]], all of which he won consecutively, and the first to win three [[European Golden Shoe]] awards. With Barcelona, Messi has won seven La Ligas, three [[Copa del Rey|Copas del Rey]], six [[Supercopa de España|Supercopas de España]], four [[UEFA Champions League]]s, two [[UEFA Super Cup]]s and two [[FIFA Club World Cup]]s. |
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Messi is the only player to [[List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League top scorers#European Cup and UEFA Champions League top goalscorer by seasons|top-score in four consecutive Champions League seasons]], and also holds the record for the [[List of UEFA Champions League hat-tricks|most hat-tricks scored in the competition]] with five. In March 2012, he made Champions League history by becoming the first player to score five goals in one match. In the 2011–12 season, Messi set the European record for most goals scored in a season with 73 goals, set the goalscoring [[Spanish football top scorers|record in a single La Liga season]] with 50 goals, and became the second player ever to score in six different official competitions in one season after [[Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma|Pedro]].<ref name="FC Barcelona individual records">{{cite web|title=FC Barcelona individual records|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/the-honours/detail/card/fc-barcelona-individual-records|publisher=fcbarcelona.com|accessdate=2 June 2014}}</ref> In February 2013 he scored his 300th Barcelona goal. On 30 March 2013, Messi scored in his 19th consecutive La Liga game, becoming the first footballer in history to net in consecutive matches against every team in a professional football league. He extended his record scoring streak to 21 consecutive league matches. In March 2014, with a hat-trick against [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]], Messi became the player with the most goals and most hat-tricks in the history of ''[[El Clásico]]''. In October 2014, Messi, aged 27, became the youngest player to score 250 goals in La Liga. In November 2014, Messi scored a [[Hat-trick#Association football|hat-trick]] against Sevilla to reach 253 La Liga goals, becoming the [[Spanish football top scorers#All time top scorers in La liga|all-time top scorer in La Liga]]. In May 2015, he scored his 77th Champions League goal to become its [[List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League top scorers|all-time leading scorer]]. |
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Messi helped [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] win the [[2005 FIFA World Youth Championship|2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup]], finishing as both the best player and the top scorer (with six goals). In [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]], he became the youngest Argentine to play and score in the [[FIFA World Cup]], and won a runners-up medal at the [[Copa América]] in [[2007 Copa América|2007]], in which he was named young player of the tournament. In [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008]], he won an [[Gold medal|Olympic Gold Medal]] with the [[Argentina national under-23 football team|Argentina Olympic football team]]. At the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 World Cup]], he led Argentina to the [[2014 FIFA World Cup Final|final]], winning four consecutive Man of the Match awards in the process, and received the [[Adidas Golden Ball|Golden Ball]] award as the best player of the tournament. In 2013, ''SportsPro'' rated him the second-most marketable athlete in the world.<ref name="SportsPro"/> His playing style and stature have drawn comparisons to compatriot [[Diego Maradona]], who himself declared Messi his "[[New Maradona|successor]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-02/25/content_523966.htm|title=Maradona proclaims Messi as his successor|agency=Reuters|work=China Daily |date=25 February 2006 |accessdate=8 October 2006}}</ref> |
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==Early life== |
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Messi was born on 24 June 1987<ref name="barca"/> in [[Rosario, Santa Fe|Rosario]], [[Santa Fe Province]], to parents Jorge Horácio Messi, a factory steel worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.canchallena.com/1278476|title=El crack que desea victorias de regalo|publisher=Canchallena|language=Spanish|trans_title=The 'crack' who wants victories for presents}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/lionel-messi-magic-in-his-feet-1928768.html |last=Carlin |first=John |work=The Independent |location=UK |title=Lionel Messi: Magic in his feet |accessdate=7 April 2010 |date=27 March 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/deportes/8-121094-2009-03-07.html |last=Veiga |first=Gustavo |publisher=Página/12 |title=Los intereses de Messi |accessdate=31 May 2009 |language=Spanish }}</ref><ref name="mission">{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3779961.ece |work=The Times |title=Lionel Messi on a mission |last=Hawkey |first=Ian |date=20 April 2008 |accessdate=30 May 2009 |location=London }}{{subscription required}}</ref> His paternal great-grandfather, Angelo Messi originates from the Italian city of [[Recanati]] and emigrated to Argentina in 1883.<ref name="El origen de los Messi">{{cite web |url=http://www.aldia.cr/ad_ee/2006/febrero/24/ovacion11.html |title=El origen de los Messi está en Italia |accessdate=7 July 2009 |date=24 February 2006 |publisher=Al Día |last=Aguilar |first=Alexander |language=Spanish}}</ref><ref name="Las raíces italianas de Leo Messi">{{cite web |url=http://hemeroteca.elmundodeportivo.es/preview/2005/10/07/pagina-5/722791/pdf.html |title=Las raíces italianas de Leo Messi |accessdate=7 July 2009 |date=7 October 2005 |publisher=El Mundo Deportivo |last=Cubero |first=Cristina|language=Spanish}}</ref> He has two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías, and a sister, María Sol.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=1246/bio/index.html |publisher=NBC |title=Lionel Messi bio |accessdate=30 May 2009}}</ref> At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge.<ref name=Williams/> In 1995, Messi switched to [[Newell's Old Boys]] who were based in his home city Rosario.<ref name=Williams>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Richard |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/feb/24/championsleague1 |newspaper=The Guardian |title=Messi has all the qualities to take world by storm |accessdate=3 May 2008 |date=26 February 2006 |location=London}}</ref> He became part of a local youth team that lost only one match in the next four years and became locally known as "The Machine of '87", the year of their birth.<ref name=Thompson>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=Lionel-Messi |title=Here & Gone |first=Wright |last=Thompson |work=[[Outside the Lines]] |publisher=[[ESPN FC]] |date=7 October 2012 |accessdate=7 October 2012}}</ref> |
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At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a [[growth hormone deficiency]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/5099857/Franck-Ribery-the-man-to-challenge-Lionel-Messi-and-Barcelona.html |title=Franck Ribery the man to challenge Lionel Messi and Barcelona |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |last=White |first=Duncan |date=4 April 2009 |accessdate=7 July 2009 }}</ref> Local team [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] showed interest in Messi's progress, but were not willing to pay for treatment for his condition, which cost $900 a month.<ref name="mission"/> [[Carles Rexach]], the sporting director of FC Barcelona, was made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in [[Lleida]] in western [[Catalonia]], and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial with the team.<ref name="mission"/> Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered Messi a contract written on a paper napkin.<ref>FT Weekend Magazine, 28–29 May 2011, 'Lionel Messi' by Ronald Reng</ref><ref name=fifa.com/> Barcelona offered to pay Messi's medical bills on the condition that he moved to Spain. Messi and his father duly moved to Barcelona, where Messi enrolled in the [[La Masia|club's youth academy]].<ref name=Williams/><ref name=fifa.com>{{cite news |url=http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/clubworldcup/japan2006/news/newsid=103182/index.html |title=The new messiah |
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|publisher=FIFA |date=5 March 2006 |accessdate=25 July 2006}}</ref> |
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==Barcelona== |
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===2000–05 junior years=== |
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Messi played in FC Barcelona's junior Infantil B and Cadete B and A teams from 2000 to 2003, scoring 37 goals in 30 matches in Cadete A. He was nearly released from the club in 2003 because of financial constraints, but his youth coaches convinced management to keep him ([[Cesc Fàbregas]] was released during this purge).<ref>{{cite web|title=Barcelona almost let Lionel Messi leave for free|url=http://www.givemesport.com/369519-barcelona-almost-let-lionel-messi-leave-for-free|publisher=GiveMeSport.com|accessdate=15 September 2013}}</ref> Season 2003–04 saw him on a record five different teams:<ref>{{cite web |first1=Sandra |last1=Sarmiento |first2=Jaume |last2=Marcet |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/09/n090918106812.html |title=From 'Infantil B' to World number one |date=18 September 2009 |publisher=FCBarcelona.com |accessdate=9 January 2012 }}</ref> he started one match in Juvenil B (one goal) and got promoted to Juvenil A (14 matches, 21 goals). Messi made his official debut for the first team on 16 November 2003, in a [[Exhibition game|friendly match]] against [[F.C. Porto|Porto]],<ref>{{cite web|publisher=FC Barcelona|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/season/2011-2012/leo-messi-made-his-debut-for-barca-s-first-team-eight-years-ago|title=Leo Messi made his debut for Barça's first team eight years ago|date=16 November 2011|accessdate=28 April 2015}}</ref> before debuting for the [[FC Barcelona C]] team ([[Tercera División]]) on 29 November 2003 and for [[FC Barcelona B]] ([[Segunda División B]]) on 6 March 2004. He played for both the C and B teams during the season (10 matches, five goals and five matches, zero goals, respectively).<ref name="Lionel Messi Match History Statistics">{{cite news|url=http://kahkonen.arkku.net/messi/?matches/index/2003-04o|title=Lionel Messi Match History Statistics|publisher=Mika Kähkönen|year=2012|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.elmundodeportivo.es/preview/2003/11/29/pagina-46/563828/pdf.html?search=Messi|title=Messi debuta en elBarça C en el derbifrente al Europa |accessdate=25 September 2011 |language=Spanish}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.elmundodeportivo.es/preview/2005/08/26/pagina-13/765467/pdf.html?search=Messi|title=Messi estará en el stage de Peralada |accessdate=25 September 2011 |language=Spanish}}</ref> |
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Less than a year after his start, manager [[Frank Rijkaard]] gave him his league debut against [[RCD Espanyol]] on 16 October 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/messi-made-his-debut-for-the-first-team-nine-years-ago-today|title=Messi made his debut for the first team nine years ago today|date=16 October 2013|accessdate=29 October 2014|quote="On October 16 in 2004...it was Messi’s first game with the senior side."}}</ref><ref name="footballdb"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tutton |first1=Mark |last2=Duke |first2=Greg |title=Profile: Lionel Messi |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/football/05/22/messi.football.best.world/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=22 May 2009 |accessdate=30 May 2009 }}</ref> At 17 years and 114 days, Messi was the third-youngest player ever to play for Barcelona and youngest club player to play in La Liga, a record that would be broken by [[Bojan Krkić]] in September 2007. When he scored his first senior goal for the club against [[Albacete Balompié]] on 1 May 2005, Messi was 17 years, ten months and seven days old, becoming the youngest to ever score in a La Liga game for Barcelona,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada07-08/10/n071016101878.html |title=Meteoric rise in three years |accessdate=3 May 2008 |publisher=fcbarcelona.com}}</ref> until the record was also broken by Krkić in 2007, scoring from a Messi assist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada07-08/10/n071020101276.html |title=Krkic enters the record books |accessdate=16 July 2009 |date=21 October 2007 |publisher=fcbarcelona.cat|last=Nogueras |first=Sergi}}</ref> Messi said about his former coach Rijkaard: "I'll never forget the fact that he launched my career, that he had confidence in me while I was only 16 or 17."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerway.com/news/2009/December/10/messi-rijkaard-gave-us-more-freedom/|title=Messi: "Rijkaard gave us more freedom"|date=10 December 2009|publisher=Soccerway}}</ref> During the season, Messi played also in Barcelona B ([[2004–05 Segunda División B#Group III|Segunda División B]]) scoring six goals in 17 matches.<!--see talk page: [[Talk:Lionel_Messi/Archive_3#Barcelona_B_Stats--> |
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===2005–06 season=== |
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{{Quote box |
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|quote = I have seen the player who will [[New Maradona|inherit my place]] in Argentinian football and his name is Messi. |
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|source = — [[Diego Maradona]] on the 18-year-old Messi, February 2006.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17297792 "Is Barcelona's Lionel Messi the greatest-ever footballer?"]. BBC. Retrieved 12 May 2014</ref> |
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|quoted = 1 |
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}} |
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On 16 September, for the second time in three months, Barcelona announced an update to Messi's contract; this time it was improved to pay him as a first team member and extended until June 2014.<ref name=Williams/> Messi obtained Spanish [[citizenship]] on 26 September 2005<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/story.aspx?file=%2f2005%2f9%2f28%2fsports%2f12165057&sec=sports |title=Good news for Barcelona as Messi gets his Spanish passport |work=The Star|date=28 May 2005 |accessdate=29 May 2009}}</ref> and was finally able to make his debut in [[2005–06 La Liga|the season]]'s Spanish First Division. Messi's first home outing in the [[2005–06 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] came on 27 September against Italian club [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]].<ref name="footballdb">{{cite news |url=http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=222&b=true |title=Lionel Andres Messi — FCBarcelona and Argentina |publisher=Football Database |accessdate=23 August 2006}}</ref> Fans at Barcelona's stadium, the [[Camp Nou]], gave Messi a standing ovation upon his [[Substitute (association football)|substitution]], as his composure on the ball and passing combinations with [[Ronaldinho]] had paid dividends for Barcelona.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Reuters |url=http://in.rediff.com/sports/2005/sep/28messi.htm |title=Ronaldinho scores the goals, Messi takes the plaudits |publisher=Rediff|date=28 September 2005 |accessdate=23 August 2006}}</ref> |
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Messi netted six goals in 17 league appearances, and scored one Champions League goal in six. His season ended prematurely on 7 March 2006, however, when he suffered a muscle tear in his right thigh during the second leg of the second round Champions League tie against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=366008&cc=3436 |title=Frustrated Messi suffers another injury setback |publisher=ESPN Soccernet |date=26 April 2006 |accessdate=22 July 2006}}</ref> Rijkaard's Barcelona ended the season as champions of Spain and Europe.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-1-barcelona-2-barcelona-crush-heroic-arsenal-in-space-of-four-brutal-minutes-478659.html |title=Arsenal 1 Barcelona 2: Barcelona crush heroic Arsenal in space of four brutal minutes |last=Wallace |first=Sam |work=The Independent |location=Paris |date=18 May 2006 |accessdate=3 June 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4970966.stm |title=Barca retain Spanish league title |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 May 2006 |accessdate=3 June 2009}}</ref> |
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===2006–07 season=== |
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[[File:Barcelona vs Rangers.jpg|thumb|Messi in a [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] group stage match against [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] on 7 November 2007]] |
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In the [[2006–07 La Liga|2006–07 season]], Messi established himself as a regular first team player, scoring 14 times in 26 matches.<ref name="nationalfootball">{{NFT player|pid=12066|Lionel Messi|accessdate=17 July 2009}}</ref> On 12 November, in the game against [[Real Zaragoza]], Messi suffered a broken [[Metatarsus|metatarsal]], ruling him out for three months.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://arxiu.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/historic_noticies/futbol/06/Novembre/n06111404.html |title=Doctors happy with Messi op |publisher=FCBarcelona.com |date=14 November 2006 |accessdate=16 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/index/0,2442,125576,00.html?articleid=125576 |title=Messi to miss FIFA Club World Cup |date=13 November 2006 |publisher=FIFA.com/Reuters |accessdate=18 January 2006 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071211061548/http://fifa.com/en/comp/index/0,2442,125576,00.html?articleid=125576 |archivedate=11 December 2007}}</ref> On 10 March, ''El Clásico'' saw Messi in top form, scoring a [[Hat-trick (football)|hat-trick]] to earn 10-man Barcelona a 3–3 draw, [[equaliser (sports)|equalising]] three times, with the final equaliser coming in [[injury time]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-3-real-madrid-3-magical-messi-is-barcelonas-hero-439788.html|title=Magical Messi is Barcelona's hero|last=Hayward |first=Ben |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=11 March 2007 |accessdate=30 May 2009 }}</ref> In doing so he became the first player since [[Iván Zamorano]] (for Real Madrid in the 1994–95 season) to score a hat-trick in ''El Clásico''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=113101.html |title=Inter beat AC, Messi headlines derby |date=11 March 2007 |publisher=FIFA |accessdate=30 May 2009}}</ref> Messi is also the youngest player ever to have scored in this fixture. Towards the end of the season he began finding the net more often; 11 of his 14 league goals for the season came from the last 13 games.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/5099857/Franck-Ribery-the-man-to-challenge-Lionel-Messi-and-Barcelona.html |title=Lionel Messi 2006/07 season statistics |publisher=ESPN Soccernet |accessdate=3 June 2009 |location=London |first=Duncan |last=White |date=4 April 2009}}</ref> |
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[[File:Lionel Messi goal 19abr2007.jpg|thumb|left|Messi shortly before scoring a goal against [[Getafe CF|Getafe]] in a semi-finals match of the [[2006–07 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] on 18 April 2007]] |
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Regularly [[New Maradona|compared to Maradona]], Messi proved the comparison was not all hype by nearly replicating the former player's most famous goals in the space of the single season.<ref name="maradonalike">{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/2311407/The-greatest-goal-ever.html |title=The greatest goal ever? |date=20 April 2007 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |last=Lowe|first=Sid |accessdate=7 July 2009 }}</ref> On 18 April 2007, he scored two goals during a [[2006–07 Copa del Rey]] semi-final against [[Getafe CF]], one of which was very similar to Maradona's [[Goal of the Century|famous goal]] against [[England national football team|England]] at the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]] in [[Mexico]], known as the [[Goal of the Century]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=423002&cc=3888 |title=Messi dazzles as Barça reach Copa Final |publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=18 April 2007}}</ref> The world's sports press drew comparisons with Maradona, and the Spanish press labelled Messi as "Messidona".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/14/stories/2007071455691800.htm |title=Can ‘Messidona’ beat Maradona? |work=The Hindu |date=14 July 2007 |location=Chennai}}</ref> He ran about the same distance, {{convert|62|m|ft}}, beat the same number of players (six, including the [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]), scored from a very similar position, and ran towards the [[corner flag]] just as Maradona did in Mexico 21 years before.<ref name="maradonalike"/> In a press conference after the game, Messi's team-mate [[Deco]] said: "It was the best goal I have ever seen in my life."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/2311407/The-greatest-goal-ever.html |title=The greatest goal ever? |last=Lowe |first=Sid |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=20 April 2007 |accessdate=7 May 2007 }}</ref> Against RCD Espanyol Messi also scored a goal which was remarkably similar to Maradona's [[Hand of God goal]] against England in the World Cup quarter-finals. Messi launched himself at the ball and connected with his hand to guide the ball past the goalkeeper [[Idriss Carlos Kameni|Carlos Kameni]].<ref name="Hand of Messi">{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article1910271.ece |title=Hand of Messi saves Barcelona |last=Mitten |first=Andy |work=The Times |location=UK |date=10 June 2007 |accessdate=12 January 2008 }}</ref> Despite protests by Espanyol players and replays showing it was clear [[Handball (soccer)|handball]], the goal stood.<ref name="Hand of Messi"/> During his time at FC Barcelona, manager Frank Rijkaard decided to move Messi from the left flank onto the right wing, initially against the player's wishes, allowing him to cut into the centre of the pitch and shoot or cross with his left foot.<ref name=2012FT>{{cite web |title=Lionel Messi |first=Ronald |last=Reng |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/cfa0d296-8672-11e0-9d5c-00144feabdc0.html |work=Financial Times |date=27 May 2011 |accessdate=10 June 2012 }}</ref> |
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===2007–08 season=== |
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[[File:Messi 22 Sep 07 v Sevilla.JPG|thumb|upright|Messi takes Barcelona to 2–0 against [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]] in [[2007–08 La Liga|La Liga]] match on 22 September 2007.]] |
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Messi was nominated for a [[FIFPro World XI|FIFPro World XI Player Award]] under the category of Forward.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://worldx1.fifpro.org/index.php?mod=plink&id=14697|title=FIFPro World XI|publisher=FIFPro|accessdate=30 May 2009}}{{dead link|date=December 2012}}</ref> A poll conducted in the online edition of the Spanish newspaper ''[[Diario Marca|Marca]]'' had him as the best player in the world with 77 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/futbol/2007/messi_kun/handicho.html|title=El fútbol a sus pies|last=Villalobos|first=Fran|work=Marca|location=Spain|language=Spanish|date=10 April 2007|accessdate=7 July 2009}}</ref> Columnists from Barcelona-based newspapers ''[[El Mundo Deportivo]]'' and ''[[Sport (Spanish newspaper)|Sport]]'' stated that the Ballon d'Or should be given to Messi, a view supported by [[Franz Beckenbauer]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/?idpublicacio_PK=44&idioma=CAS&idtipusrecurs_PK=7&idnoticia_PK=447107|title=Si Messi sigue trabajando así, será como Maradona y Pelé|last=Fest|first=Leandro|work=Sport|location=Spain|language=Spanish|accessdate=7 July 2009}}</ref> and other football personalities, such as [[Francesco Totti]], who declared Messi to be one of the best footballers in the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/internacional/es/desarrollo/1063306.html|title=Totti le daría el Balón de Oro a Messi antes que a Kaká|work=Marca|location=Spain |language=Spanish|date=29 November 2007 |accessdate=7 July 2009}}</ref> Messi finished third in the [[Ballon d'Or 2007|2007 Ballon d'Or]], behind [[Kaká]] and [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], and finished second in the [[2007 FIFA World Player of the Year]] award, once again behind Kaká. He also came in third in the [[IFFHS]] World's Best Playmaker Award, once again behind Kaká and [[Andrea Pirlo]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 IFFHS World's Best Playmaker Award|url=http://www.iffhs.de/?a433ccd423dce837ccad5e99a54505fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb8a3a11|accessdate=31 August 2012}}</ref> |
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On 27 February, Messi played in his 100th official match for Barcelona against [[Valencia CF]] <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=700689.html|title=Xavi late show saves Barca|publisher=FIFA|date=27 February 2008 |accessdate=27 May 2009}}</ref> but only a few days later he was sidelined for six weeks following an injury on 4 March when he suffered a muscle tear in his left thigh during a Champions League match against [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic FC]]. It was the fourth time in three seasons that Messi suffered this type of injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2008/03/05/lionel-messi.html?ref=rss|title=Barcelona's Lionel Messi sidelined with thigh injury|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=5 March 2008 |accessdate=14 June 2009}}</ref> Messi scored 6 goals and provided 1 assist during the Champions League that season, as Barcelona were knocked out in the semi-finals, to the eventual winners [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. When the season was over Messi had managed to score 16 goals and assisted 13 times in all competitions. |
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===2008–09 season=== |
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Upon Ronaldinho's departure from the club, Messi inherited his [[Squad number (association football)|number 10]] jersey. During the season he placed second in the [[2008 FIFA World Player of the Year]] award with 678 points and third in the 2008 IFFHS World's Best Playmaker Award for the second consecutive year,<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 World's Best Playmaker Award|url=http://www.iffhs.de/?a433ccd423dce837ccad5e99a57505fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb8a3900|accessdate=31 August 2012}}</ref> also placing second in the [[Ballon d'Or 2008|2008 Ballon d'Or]] behind the winner [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], once again. |
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[[File:039 men at work UEFA 2009, Rome.jpg|thumb|left|Messi in action against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] at the [[2009 UEFA Champions League Final]]]] |
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Messi scored his first hat-trick of 2009 in a [[2008–09 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] tie against [[Atlético Madrid]] which Barcelona won 3–1.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mobile.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=387234|title=Messi scores hat trick in Barca's 3–1 win over Atletico|work=Shanghai Daily |date=7 January 2009 |accessdate=29 May 2009}}</ref> Messi scored another important double on 1 February 2009, coming on as a second-half substitute to help Barcelona defeat [[Racing Santander]] 1–2 after being 1–0 down. The second of the two strikes was Barcelona's 5000th league goal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iZaLqalXOwOJ2FwjihA3svGql1Mw |title=Supersub Messi fires 5,000-goal Barcelona to comeback victory |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=1 February 2009 |accessdate=1 February 2009}}</ref> On 8 April 2009, he scored twice against [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] in the Champions League, setting a personal record of eight goals in the competition.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-04-09-2372732048_x.htm|title=Barcelona returns to earth with league match|work=USA Today |date=9 April 2009 |accessdate=7 July 2009|last=Logothetis|first=Paul}}</ref> |
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As Barcelona's season was drawing to a close, Messi scored twice (his 35th and 36th goals in all competitions) to cap a 6–2 win over [[El Clásico|rivals]] Real Madrid at the [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium|Santiago Bernabéu]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/may/02/la-liga-real-madrid-barcelona|title=Barcelona run riot at Real Madrid and put Chelsea on notice|last=Lowe|first=Sid|newspaper=The Guardian |date=2 May 2009 |accessdate=31 May 2009 }}</ref> in what was Real's heaviest defeat since 1930. He won his first [[2009 Copa del Rey Final|Copa del Rey]] on 13 May, scoring one goal and assisting another two, in a 4–1 victory over [[Athletic Bilbao]], finishing the competition with 6 goals and 2 assists.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel Andrés Messi|url=http://arxiu.fcbarcelona.cat/web/castellano/futbol/temporada_08-09/estadistiques/jugadors/Messi/fitxa.html|accessdate=13 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/5321324/Barcelona-defeat-Athletic-Bilbao-to-win-Copa-del-Rey.html|title=Barcelona defeat Athletic Bilbao to win Copa del Rey|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=14 May 2009 |accessdate=28 May 2009 }}</ref> He helped his team win the double by winning La Liga, scoring league 23 goals and providing 11 assists that season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spanish Primera Division, 2008-09 Season Statistics: Assists|url=http://www.espnfc.com/spanish-primera-division/15/statistics/assists?season=2008|accessdate=13 January 2015}}</ref> On 27 May he helped Barcelona win the Champions League by scoring a second goal in the [[2009 UEFA Champions League Final|final]] during the 70th minute, giving Barcelona a two-goal lead; he also became the top scorer in the Champions League, the youngest in the tournament's history, with nine goals, also setting up five more in the competition that season.<ref>{{cite web|title=UEFA Champions League 2008-09 Season, Statistics: Assists|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2009/statistics/round=15276/players/type=assists/index.html|accessdate=13 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/index.html|title=Messi sweeps up goalscoring honours|publisher=UEFA |date=27 May 2009 |accessdate=4 June 2009}}</ref> Messi also won the [[UEFA Champions League Best Forward|UEFA Club Forward of the Year]] and the [[UEFA Club Footballer of the Year]] rounding off a spectacular year in Europe.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/news/newsid=877275.html|title=Messi recognised as Europe's finest|publisher=UEFA |date=28 August 2009 |accessdate=30 August 2009}}</ref> Barcelona had won the Copa del Rey, [[2008–09 La Liga|La Liga]] and Champions League in one season;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=251667|title=Barcelona win treble in style|publisher=Gulf Daily News|date=28 May 2009|accessdate=28 May 2009}}</ref> the first time a Spanish club had ever won the [[treble (association football)|treble]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gWWxxsWEy4ekZn5IvfAjneYuubSQ?docId=CNG.8b0cf6a3d9ffa4d3336f8d5f0d70f669.3e1&index=0|title=Barcelona eclipse dream team with historic treble|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=31 May 2009|accessdate=3 June 2009}}</ref> The all-star attacking trio of Messi (38 goals), [[Samuel Eto'o]] (36 goals) and [[Thierry Henry]] (26 goals) scored exactly 100 goals between them in all competitions during the club's historic treble year.<ref>[http://blogs.soccernet.com/barcelona/archives/2012/05/lionel_messis_golden_boot_mean.php "Lionel Messi Excelled In The Least Successful Barcelona Under Guardiola"]. ESPN. Retrieved 24 August 2014</ref> |
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{{clear left}} |
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===2009–10 season=== |
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{{Quote box |quote=Once he's on a run with the ball he's unstoppable[...] He's [like] a [[PlayStation]]. He can take advantage of every mistake we make. |source=— Arsenal manager [[Arsène Wenger]], after Barcelona [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League knockout phase#Barcelona v Arsenal|defeated Arsenal 4–1]], 6 April 2010<ref name="Arsene Wenger comments about Lionel Messi 2010">{{cite web |first=John |last=Cross |title=Wenger: Unstoppable Messi is like a PlayStation |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Unstoppable-Lionel-Messi-is-like-a-PlayStation-says-Arsenal-boss-Arsene-Wenger-after-Barcelona-Champions-League-masterclass-article383291.html |work=Daily Mirror |date=6 April 2010 |accessdate=20 November 2013 }}</ref> |align=right |quoted=1 |width=33% }} |
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After winning the [[2009 UEFA Super Cup]], Barcelona manager [[Pep Guardiola]] asserted that Messi was probably the best player he had ever seen.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2009/08/29/futbol/1251499664.html|title=Messi es el mejor jugador que veré jamás|publisher=El Mundo Deportivo |date=29 August 2009 |accessdate=29 August 2009 |language=Spanish}}</ref> This would also be the season in which Guardiola would first move Messi from the position of [[Right winger (football)|right winger]] into his now iconic "[[Association football positions#False nine|false-9]]" role in the centre of the front line at Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web|title=False 9: Guardiola's Barcelona Reinventing Total Football|url=http://thefalse9.blogspot.ca/2012/04/guardiolas-barcelona-reinventing-total.html|accessdate=10 June 2012}}</ref> On 18 September, Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona, running until 2016 and with a buy-out clause of €250 million included, making Messi, then along with [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]], the highest paid players in La Liga, with earnings of around €9.5 million yearly.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/09/n090918106811.html|title=Leo Messi extends his stay at Barça|publisher=fcbarcelona.com|date=18 September 2009 |accessdate=18 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8184399.stm|title=Messi signs new deal at Barcelona|publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 September 2009|accessdate=18 September 2009}}</ref> |
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[[File:Messi vs Atlante.JPG|thumb|Messi playing against [[C.F. Atlante|Atlante]] in the semi-finals of the [[2009 FIFA Club World Cup]] on 16 December 2009]] |
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Messi was named winner of the [[Ballon d'Or 2009|2009 Ballon d'Or]] on 1 December 2009, beating runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo by largest ever margin of 473 to 233.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8387679.stm|title=Barcelona forward Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or award|publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 December 2009|accessdate=1 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/01/2759069.htm|title=Messi wins prestigious Ballon d'Or award|publisher=ABC Sport|date=1 December 2009 |accessdate=10 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/lionel-messi-a-rare-talent-1831871.html|title=Lionel Messi: A rare talent|work=The Independent |location=UK |date=1 December 2009 |accessdate=10 December 2009 |last=Barnett|first=Phil }}</ref> He also placed second in the 2009 IFFHS World's Best Playmaker Award,<ref>{{cite web|title=2009 IFFHS World's Best Playmaker Award|url=http://www.iffhs.de/?a433ccd423dce837ccad5e99a57505fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb8a3816|accessdate=31 August 2012}}</ref> behind team mate [[Xavi]]. |
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On 19 December, Messi scored the winner in the final of the [[2009 FIFA Club World Cup|2009 Club World Cup]] against [[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes]] in [[Abu Dhabi]], giving the club their sixth title of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=285375&cc=5739&league=FIFA.CWC|title=Messi seals number six|date=19 December 2009 |publisher=ESPN Soccernet|accessdate=21 December 2009}}</ref> Two days later, he was given the [[2009 FIFA World Player of the Year|FIFA World Player of the Year award]], beating Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, Kaká and [[Andrés Iniesta]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/archive/edition=1999902009/news/newsid=1151399/index.html|title=Messi takes first award, Marta obtains record-breaking fourth crown|date=21 December 2009|work=FIFA.com|accessdate=30 June 2013}}</ref> This was the first time he had won the award, and he became the first Argentine to ever receive this honour.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=716683&sec=world&cc=5901|title=FC Barcelona's Messi wins World Player of the Year|date=21 December 2009 |publisher=ESPN Soccernet|accessdate=22 December 2009}}</ref> On 10 January 2010, Messi scored his first hat-trick in 2010 and his first hat-trick of the season against [[CD Tenerife]] in the 0–5 victory, and on 17 January he scored his 100th goal for the club in the 4–0 victory over Sevilla FC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/catala/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/01/n100117108826.html|title=Messi 101: el golejador centenari més jove|date=17 January 2010|publisher=fcbarcelona.cat|accessdate=17 January 2010 |language=Catalan|last=Bogunyà|first=Roger}}</ref> |
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Messi scored a hat-trick against Valencia CF in a 3–0 home win,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/sud/story.asp?i=20100314202145360000101&ref=hea&tm=&src=LASOC |title=Messi hat-trick as Barcelona beats Valencia 3–0 |work=Sports Illustrated |date=14 March 2010 |first=Guy |last=Hedgecoe |accessdate=8 November 2010}}</ref> and finally he scored another hat-trick against Real Zaragoza in a 4–2 away win,<ref>{{cite news |first=Jacob |last=Steinberg |title=Lionel Messi sends warning to Arsenal with another hat-trick |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/21/lionel-messi-arsenal-hat-trick |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=21 March 2010 |accessdate=22 March 2010 }}</ref> becoming the first Barcelona player to score back-to-back hat-tricks in La Liga.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nadie marcó dos ‘hat trick’ seguidos |url=http://www.sport.es/es/?idpublicacio_PK=44&idioma=CAS&idtipusrecurs_PK=7&idnoticia_PK=698276 |date=23 March 2010 |accessdate=23 March 2010 |language=Spanish }}</ref> He played his 200th official match for Barcelona against [[CA Osasuna]] on 24 March 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1475100.html |title=Match facts: Barcelona v Inter |publisher=UEFA |date=25 April 2010 |accessdate=8 November 2010 }}</ref> |
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On 6 April 2010, for the first time in Messi's career he scored four goals in a single match, netting the lot in a 4–1 home win over [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League knockout phase#Final|Champions League quarter-final second leg]], which allowed him to finish the season as the competition's top scorer for the second consecutive year, with 8 goals.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-04-06-985993008_x.htm |title=Messi scores four as Barcelona beats Arsenal 4–1 |work=USA Today |date=6 April 2010 |accessdate=8 November 2010 |first=Paul |last=Logothetis }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/07/barcelona-arsenal-lionel-messi |title=Arsène Wenger hails Barcelona's Lionel Messi after four-goal display |agency=Press Association |work=The Guardian |date=7 April 2010 |accessdate=13 January 2012 |location=London}}</ref> This also saw him overtake [[Rivaldo]] as Barcelona's all time greatest scorer in the competition.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8602344.stm|title=Barcelona 4–1 Arsenal|date=6 April 2010|publisher=BBC Sport |first=Stuart|last=Roach|accessdate=6 April 2010}}</ref> In the final league match of the season against Valladolid, he scored two goals in the second half to tie [[Ronaldo|Ronaldo's]] club record of 34 goals in a single league season, set in [[1996–97 La Liga|1996–97]], and to finish four goals behind the all-time record which was held by [[Telmo Zarra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://berita8.com/news.php?cat=20&id=22250 |title=Messi Peroleh Gelar El Pichichi Dan Sepatu Emas |publisher=berita8.com |date=17 May 2010 |accessdate=2 June 2010}}</ref> He won the [[Pichichi trophy]], and was also named La Liga [[Trofeo Alfredo di Stéfano|player of the year]] for the second year in a row on 3 June 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/2010/06/03/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1275550866.html |title=Messi se corona como el mejor jugador de la Liga |work=Marca|location=Spain |date=3 June 2010 |accessdate=3 June 2010 }}</ref> He finished the season with 47 goals in all competitions, tying Ronaldo's record from the [[1996–97 FC Barcelona season|1996–97]] season, and he provided 11 assists.<ref>{{cite news |title=Messi Equals Ronaldo's Barcelona Record |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-05-16/sports/27064563_1_lionel-messi-camp-nou-barcelona-coach-pep-guardiola |accessdate=16 June 2012 |location=New York |work=Daily News |date=16 May 2010 }}</ref> |
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===2010–11 season=== |
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{{Quote box |quote=I feel sorry for those who want to compete for Messi's throne — it’s impossible, this kid is unique. |source=— Former Barcelona manager [[Pep Guardiola]].<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/lionel-messi/9786403/Fifa-Ballon-dOr-2012-Lionel-Messi-rewarded-for-displays-no-rival-could-ever-match.html "Fifa Ballon d'Or 2012: Lionel Messi rewarded for displays no rival could ever match"]. Telegraph.</ref> |align=right |quoted=1 |width=33% }} |
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On 21 August 2010, Messi scored a hat-trick in his first start of the season in a 4–0 victory over [[Sevilla FC]] in the [[2010 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]], helping Barcelona secure their first trophy of the season after a 1–3 first leg loss. |
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On 19 September 2010, Messi suffered an ankle injury due to an ill-advised tackle by Atlético Madrid defender [[Tomáš Ujfaluši]] in the 92nd minute of their Round 3 match at the [[Vicente Calderón Stadium]]. At first sight it was feared that Messi suffered a broken ankle that could have kept the star player away from the pitch for a minimum of six months, but MRI performed the next day in Barcelona showed he suffered a sprain in the internal and external ligaments of his right ankle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada10-11/09/20/n100920113021.html|title=Messi injured|publisher=FCBarcelona.cat|date=20 September 2010 |accessdate=22 September 2010}}</ref> Team-mate [[David Villa]] stated "the tackle on Messi was brutal" after watching the video of the play and also added that he believed the Atlético defender "didn't go into the tackle to hurt".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada10-11/09/20/n100920113025.html|title=Villa on Messi's injury|publisher=FCBarcelona.cat|date=20 September 2010|accessdate=22 September 2010}}</ref> The incident caused widespread media attention and brought up the debate of equality in protecting all players in the game. Against [[UD Almería]] Messi scored his second hat-trick of the season in an impressive 8–0 away win, the second of which was his 100th La Liga goal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.entradasfcbarcelona.com/?p=3389 |title=Jornada 12 – UD Almería 0–8 FC Barcelona |publisher=entradasfcbarcelona.com |date=20 November 2010 |accessdate=22 November 2010 }}{{dead link|date=December 2012}}</ref> |
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[[File:RMDvsBAR UCL SF 1.jpg|thumb|left|Messi trying to win the ball from [[Pepe (footballer, born 1983)|Pepe]] during the [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] semi-finals match against [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] on 27 April 2011]] |
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Messi won the [[2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or]], beating his Barcelona teammates Xavi and Iniesta.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/lionel-messi/8251269/Barcelona-forward-Lionel-Messi-wins-the-inaugural-Fifa-Ballon-dOr.html |title=Barcelona forward Lionel Messi wins the inaugural Fifa Ballon d'Or |date=10 January 2011 |accessdate=10 January 2011 |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Ian |last=Chadband}}</ref> Messi had been nominated for the awards for the fourth consecutive year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9356019.stm|title=Argentina's Lionel Messi wins Fifa Ballon d'Or award |date=10 January 2011 |accessdate=10 January 2011|publisher=BBC Sport }}</ref> On 5 February, Barcelona broke the record for most consecutive league wins with 16 victories after they defeated Atlético Madrid 3–0 at the Camp Nou.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marca.com/2011/02/05/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1296946785.html |title=Barça set 16 wins consecutive league wins |work=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]] |language=Spanish |date=5 February 2011 |accessdate=5 February 2011}}</ref> Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to ensure the victory for his side and after the match he stated, "it's an honor to be able to pass a record set by a great like "Di Stéfano" and "if the record has been around for so long is because it's very complicated to achieve and we have reached it by defeating a very difficult team who's going through a bad situation, which makes it even more difficult."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marca.com/2011/02/06/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1296948365.html |title=Messi talks about the record |work=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]] |language=Spanish |date=5 February 2011 |accessdate=5 February 2011 }}</ref> |
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After failing to score for a month he scored a brace against UD Almería; the second goal was his 47th of the season, equalling his club record return of the previous season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/20110409/messi-desatasco-barca-antes-del-clasico/968326.shtml|title=Messi desatascó al Barça antes del clásico|accessdate=9 April 2011}}</ref> He surpassed his record on 12 April 2011 by scoring the winner against Shakhtar Donetsk in a UEFA Champions League game, which put him in the record book as all time top scorer in a single season for Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/20110412/tramite-resuelto-ahora-por-madrid/971705.shtml|title=Trámite resuelto y ahora... ¡a por el Madrid!|accessdate=13 April 2011}}</ref> He scored his eighth goal on El Clásico on a 1–1 tie at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. On 23 April, Messi scored his 50th goal of the season against CA Osasuna in a 2–0 home victory which he came on as a substitute in the 60th minute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/20110416/madrid-titulo/976392.shtml|title=Un punto que vale una Liga|accessdate=16 April 2011}}</ref> He finished the season by winning La Liga and scoring 31 goals as he finished runner-up in the [[Pichichi Trophy|Pichichi]] trophy to Cristiano Ronaldo, who had managed to score 40. Messi finished the league season as the top assist provider with 18 assists. |
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On 20 April, Barcelona were defeated by arch-rivals Real Madrid in the [[2011 Copa del Rey Final]]. Messi set up a goal for [[Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma|Pedro]], which was however ruled [[Offside (association football)|offside]]. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal of the match in [[Overtime (sports)|extra time]]. Messi was however the joint top-scorer of the tournament along with Cristiano Ronaldo, with 7 goals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Copa del Rey Final 2011|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/apr/21/real-madrid-barcelona-copa-del-rey|accessdate=28 May 2012 |location=London|work=The Guardian|date=21 April 2011}}</ref> |
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In the first leg of the [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League knockout phase#First leg 3|Champions League semi-finals]], he gave a memorable performance, scoring twice against Real Madrid in a 2–0 win, the second goal (a dribble past several players) being acclaimed as one of the best ever at that stage of the competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/20110427/messi-puto-amo/986636.shtml|title=Messi es el 'puto amo'|accessdate=27 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sid_lowe/05/05/clasico.aftermath/index.html |title=The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in the aftermath of the Clásico series |date=5 May 2011 |accessdate=6 May 2011 |work=Sports Illustrated |first=Sid |last=Lowe }}</ref> At the [[2011 UEFA Champions League Final|Champions League Final]] at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]], Messi scored the eventual game-clinching goal to give Barcelona their third title in six years and fourth overall.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13576522.stm|title=Barcelona 3 Manchester United 1|date=28 May 2011|publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=30 May 2011}}</ref> This was also Messi's 12th goal in the Champions League that season, which allowed him to tie [[Ruud Van Nistelrooy]]'s record of 12 goals in a single European Cup season, after it was re-established as the UEFA Champions League, in 1992. The overall record of goals scored in a single European Cup Season, is José Altafini's record of 14 goals, which Messi did however equal in the following season. Messi finished the 2010–11 season with 53 goals and 24 assists in all competitions combined. |
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===2011–12 season=== |
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[[File:FC Barcelona Team 2, 2011.jpg|thumb|Barcelona and Messi celebrate winning the [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup]].]] |
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Messi started the season by lifting the [[2011 Supercopa de España|Spanish Supercup]] with Barcelona, scoring three goals and providing two assists in a 5–4 aggregate win against Real Madrid.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/20110818/messi-salvo-futbol/1120978.shtml|title=Messi salvó al fútbol|date=17 August 2011|work=Sport|location=Spain |accessdate=17 August 2011}}</ref> His vital interventions continued in the next official match played against [[F.C. Porto|Porto]] when he scored again following a weak back pass from [[Fredy Guarín]] before setting up [[Cesc Fàbregas]] to give Barcelona a 2–0 victory and the [[2011 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/20110826/super-messi-supercopa-barca/1130917.shtml|title=Súper Messi da la Supercopa al Barça|date=26 August 2011|work=Sport|location=Spain |accessdate=26 August 2011}}</ref> then the only official competition that remained for him to score in.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/20110827/futbol-messi-tiene-limites/1131118.shtml|title=El fútbol de Messi no tiene límites|date=26 August 2011|work=Sport|location=Spain |accessdate=26 August 2011}}</ref> |
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In August, Messi became the [[List of FC Barcelona records and statistics#Top scorers in all competitions|second highest]] goalscorer surpassing [[László Kubala]] on 194 goals, being behind only to [[César Rodríguez Álvarez|César Rodríguez]] on 232 goals in all official competitions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Messi, tras los pasos de Kubala |work=Marca |date=27 September 2011 |url=http://www.marca.com/2011/09/28/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1317208910.html |accessdate=27 September 2011 |language=Spanish }}</ref> |
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On 28 September, Messi scored his first two [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] goals of the season against [[FC BATE Borisov|BATE Borisov]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/barca-aficiona-las-manitas-1164552|title=El Barça se aficiona a las 'manitas'|date=28 September 2011|work=Sport|location=Spain |accessdate=28 September 2011}}</ref> becoming Barcelona's second highest goalscorer in its history, tying [[László Kubala]], at 194 goals in all official competitions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/messi-igualo-kubala-1164601|title=Messi iguala a Kubala y afirma que sería "hermoso" superar a César|date=28 September 2011|work=Sport|location=Spain |accessdate=28 September 2011}}</ref> He surpassed that record when he scored two goals against Racing Santander.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/barca-consolida-liderato-con-otro-recital-messi-1183586|title=El Barça consolida su liderato con otro recital de Messi|date=16 October 2011|work=Sport|location=Spain |accessdate=16 October 2011}}</ref> He became second in Barcelona's La Liga goalscorers list with 132 goals, one more than Kubala.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/messi-responde-otra-vez-1201140|title=1, 2, 3... Messi responde otra vez|date=29 October 2011|work=Sport|location=Spain |accessdate=29 October 2011}}</ref> He scored his 200th Barcelona goal and two more as part of a hat-trick in his next game against [[FC Viktoria Plzeň|Viktoria Plzeň]] in the Champions League.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/messi-infalible-hat-trick-octavos-1204309|title=Messi es infalible: hat trick... ¡y a octavos!|date=1 November 2011|work=Sport|location=Spain |accessdate=1 November 2011}}</ref> |
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[[File:Lionel Messi Player of the Year, 2011.jpg|thumb|left|Messi playing against [[Al Sadd SC|Al Sadd]] in the semi-finals of the [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup]] on 15 December 2011]] |
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Messi scored twice in the [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final|Club World Cup Final]] against [[Santos FC|Santos]] and was recognised as the [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final#Details|man of the match]] and also awarded the [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup#Awards|Golden Ball]] for his performance during the tournament.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/messi-astro-rey-1279170|title=Messi, el astro rey|date=19 December 2011|work=Sport|location=Spain |accessdate=19 December 2011}}</ref> |
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Messi won the 2011 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, beating his Barcelona team-mate Xavi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi won the [[2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or]], again beating his team-mate Xavi and Cristiano Ronaldo. By winning the FIFA Ballon d'Or again, Messi become the fourth player to win three Ballons d'Or, after [[Johan Cruyff]], [[Michel Platini]] and [[Marco van Basten]] and the second player to win three consecutive Ballons d'Or, after Michel Platini (although two of his Ballons d'Or are FIFA Ballons d'Or, which he won consecutively). Messi also won the IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer award, with 19 goals in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 IFFHS World's Top Goalscorer Award|url=http://www.iffhs.de/?388d85ff0e003c4f05e91a55285fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb8a711|accessdate=31 August 2012}}</ref> |
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On 19 February 2012, Messi, on his 200th La Liga appearance, scored four goals against Valencia CF in a 5–1 win.<ref name=valencia_four_goals>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/323821 |title=Lionel Messi Bio, Stats, News |publisher=ESPN Soccernet |accessdate=26 November 2010 }}</ref> On 7 March, Messi became the first player to score five goals in an UEFA Champions League match since the tournament's re-establishment in 1992, helping the defending champions Barcelona win 7–1 against [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]].<ref name=valencia_four_goals /> |
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{{Quote box |
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|quote = For the world of football, he [Messi] is a treasure because he is a role model for children around the world. In the space of half a metre, he can move right or left - it is like he has the ball attached to his body. Maradona was also a little bit like this, and it could be because they are both low centre of gravity. |
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|source = —Dutch legend [[Johan Cruyff]] after Messi set a new goal-scoring record for Barcelona, March 2012.<ref name="club record">[http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Lionel-Messi-hailed-as-world-treasure-by-Johan-Cruyff-fellow-Barcelona-legend-article881245.html "Messi's a world treasure says Johan Cruyff"]. The Mirror. Retrieved 16 May 2013</ref> |
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On 20 March, Messi scored three goals against [[Granada CF|Granada]], making him [[List of FC Barcelona records and statistics#Top scorers in all competitions|FC Barcelona's leading goalscorer in official competitions]], surpassing club legend César Rodríguez, who had previously held the record with 232.<ref name="club record"/> |
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On 3 April, Messi scored two goals from penalty kicks against Milan in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final, allowing him to surpass his personal record, joint with Ruud van Nistelrooy, of 12 goals in a single UEFA Champions League season. These goals allowed him to tie José Altafini's record of 14 goals in a single European Cup season in the 1962–63 season, before the tournament's re-establishment as the UEFA Champions League in 1992.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lionel Messi Equals José Altafini's Record of 14 Goals in a Single European Cup Season|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/9183381/Lionel-Messi-equals-Champions-League-record-as-Barcelona-wait-for-Chelsea-after-3-1-victory-over-AC-Milan.html |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph|first=Peter|last=Jenson|date=4 April 2012}}</ref> Messi was unable to score in the semi-finals, although he provided an assist in the second leg, as Barcelona were knocked out to eventual winners Chelsea. During the second leg match, Messi missed an important [[Penalty kick|penalty]], hitting the crossbar. The goal would have put Barcelona ahead on aggregate. |
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On 11 April, Messi scored his 61st goal of the season against Getafe CF, and made two assists.<ref>{{cite web|title=Messi's 61st goal leads Barcelona past Getafe 4–0|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=7797056|publisher=ESPN.com|accessdate=15 September 2013}}</ref> On 2 May, Messi scored a hat-trick against [[Málaga CF]] surpassing [[Gerd Müller]]'s record (67 goals in 1972–73) with 68 goals, and thus becoming the best goalscorer in history in one season in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/2012/05/02/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1335988551.html |title=Messi, con 68 goles, supera al mítico Torpedo Müller |publisher=MARCA.com |date=4 May 2012 |accessdate=5 April 2013 }}</ref> It was the 21st multi-goal game of the season for Messi and his seventh La Liga hat-trick.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7883080/lionel-messi-sets-european-record-68-goals |title=Lionel Messi sets European record |agency=Associated Press |date=2 May 2012 |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=3 May 2012}}</ref> He then scored four goals on 5 May against [[RCD Espanyol]] to take his tally to an unprecedented 72 goals, in the process becoming only the second player to pass 70 goals in a first division season since [[Archie Stark]] of [[Bethlehem Steel]] in the [[American Soccer League (1921–1933)|American Soccer League]] in 1924–25.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Barcelona 4–0 Espanyol |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/05/lionel-messi-four-goals-guardiola |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=5 May 2012 |accessdate=28 July 2012 }}</ref> |
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[[File:Lionel Messi at Bernabeu.jpg|thumb|upright|Messi playing against Real Madrid in a quarter-final match of the [[2011–12 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] on 18 January 2012]] |
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On 25 May, he scored again in the [[2012 Copa del Rey Final]], helping Barcelona win their 26th Spanish Cup title, and increasing his seasonal goalscoring record to an unmatched 73 goals in all competitions.<ref name=goals_73 /> This was also Guardiola's last match as Barcelona's manager, and the Cup win marked Messi's second Copa del Rey title, after losing the final the year before, as well as his 14th Barcelona trophy during Guardiola's four seasons at the club. Although Barcelona failed to win their fourth consecutive Liga title under Guardiola, finishing runners-up to arch-rivals Real Madrid, Messi finished the 2011–12 season as the top goalscorer in La Liga for a second time, with a La Liga record of 50 goals. He was the second best assist provider in La Liga that season with 16 assists, after [[Mesut Özil]], who managed 17. He also ended the season as the UEFA Champions' League Top Scorer for a fourth consecutive time, with 14 goals.<ref name=goals_73 /> He was one of the top assist providers of the [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League|tournament]] with 5 assists and finished the season with 73 goals and 29 assists in all club competitions, with more goals and assists than any other player. |
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===2012–13 season=== |
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During Barcelona's first game of the season against Real Sociedad, Messi continued his goalscoring run with a brace in a 5–1 win at the Camp Nou. Messi added another goal from a penalty in a 3–2 win against rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of the [[2012 Supercopa de España]] in Barcelona on 23 August.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barcelona vs Real Madrid: 3–2 – Supercopa de España 2012|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/aug/23/barcelona-real-madrid-live-mbm?newsfeed=true|accessdate=24 August 2012|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=James|last=Riach|date=23 August 2012}}</ref> He added another brace against CA Osasuna as Barcelona came from behind away from home to beat them 2–1. Messi added another goal from a free kick in the second leg of the Supercopa de España, as Barcelona, down to ten men, were defeated by Real Madrid on away goals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cristiano Ronaldo seals Super Cup win for Real Madrid despite wonder free-kick from Lionel Messi|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/cristiano-ronaldo-seals-super-cup-win-for-real-madrid-despite-wonder-freekick-from-lionel-messi-8092995.html|accessdate=31 August 2012 |location=London |work=The Independent|date=30 August 2012}}</ref> This marked his 15th goal in the ''El Clásico'' Real Madrid-Barcelona derby, which made him Barcelona's top scorer in Clasico matches, putting him tied with Raúl, behind only Alfredo Di Stefano, with 18 goals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Real Madrid beat Barcelona to win Spanish Super Cup|publisher=BBC Sport|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19402668|accessdate=31 August 2012}}</ref> Messi placed second along with Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2012 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, with 17 votes each. The award was won by Messi's Barcelona team mate Andrés Iniesta.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iniesta beats Messi & Ronaldo to UEFA award|url=http://www.givemefootball.com/european-news/iniesta-beats-messi-ronaldo-to-uefa-award|accessdate=31 August 2012}}</ref> In his third league appearance on 2 September against Valencia CF, Messi assisted the only goal of the match, by team mate Adriano, from a short corner. Messi scored two more goals in a win against Getafe on 15 September<ref>{{cite web|title=Messi brace helps see off Getafe|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1701897.html|accessdate=27 September 2012}}</ref> and added another brace in his first [[2012–13 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] match of the season against [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]] on 20 September, ending in a 3–2 win to Barcelona, also marking his tenth goal of the season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Messi brace bails out shaky Barca vs Spartak|url=http://fourfourtwo.com/news/championsleague/108945/default.aspx|accessdate=17 September 2012}}</ref> |
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On 11 November, Messi scored twice at [[RCD Mallorca]], his 75th and 76th goals in 2012, surpassing [[Pelé]]'s milestone of 75 goals (1958) in a calendar year, and moved within nine of German legend Gerd Müller's all-time [[Guinness World Records]] title.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/nov/11/barcelona-la-liga-mallorca-messi "Lionel Messi eclipses Pelé with 76th goal of year in Barcelona victory"]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 14 November 2012</ref> His 77th and 78th goals came against Real Zaragoza at Camp Nou which moved Messi seven goals away from the record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/us/en/report/348405/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5901|title=Messi does it again|date=17 November 2012|accessdate=17 November 2012|publisher=Allaboutfcbarcelona.com}}</ref> On 20 November, Messi scored twice at [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]], his 79th and 80th goals of 2012 and moved to within five goals of the record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/us/en/report/355697/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5901|title=Messi closing in on Muller record|date=20 November 2012|accessdate=20 November 2012|publisher=Allaboutfcbarcelona.com}}</ref> Messi continued his scoring run against [[Levante UD]] on 25 November with his 81st and 82nd goals of the year which moved him within three goals of Müller.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/us/en/report/348388/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5901|title=Four-star Barca march on|date=25 November 2012|accessdate=25 November 2012|publisher=Allaboutfcbarcelona.com}}</ref> On 1 December, Messi scored twice against Athletic Bilbao, his 83rd and 84th goals of the year, meaning he pulled to within one goal of Müller's record set in 1972. The two goals also meant Messi equaled the record for Barcelona's all time leading goalscoring record in La Liga, which was held by César Rodríguez with 190 goals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/messi-equals-cesars-record|title=Messi equals César’s record|date=12 December 2012|publisher=fcbarcelona}}</ref> On 9 December, Messi scored twice against [[Real Betis]], his 85th and 86th goals in 2012, surpassing Müller's milestone of 85 goals scored in a calendar year in 1972 with Bayern Munich and the [[Germany national football team|German national team]], as well as surpassing Rodríguez's record for most league goals for Barcelona.<ref name="BBC Messi record">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20661031 "Lionel Messi of Barcelona sets new goal-scoring record"]. BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 December 2012</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Messi sets record of 86 for goals in a year|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/09/us-soccer-spain-messi-record-idUSBRE8B80EO20121209|date=9 December 2012|accessdate=9 December 2012|first=Iain|last=Rogers|agency=Reuters}}</ref> Messi sent Müller a No.10 Barcelona shirt, signed "with respect and admiration", after breaking his record.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130117/lionel-messi-gerd-mueller-jersey.ap/ |title=Mueller gets Messi's No. 10 Barcelona shirt |agency=Associated Press |work=SI.com |date=17 January 2013 |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> On 12 December, Messi increased his record to 88, after scoring twice against [[Córdoba CF]] in the first leg of a [[2012–13 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] game. On 16 December, Messi scored twice in a 4–1 Barcelona victory against Atlético Madrid, increasing his record to 90 goals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Messi reaches 90 goals as Barca win|url=http://www.espnstar.com/football/primera-liga/news/detail/item909951/Messi-reaches-90-goals-as-Barca-win/|publisher=espnstar.com|date=16 December 2012|accessdate=17 December 2012}}</ref> The tally found its end at 91 goals in a year after Messi scored once against [[Real Valladolid]]. FIFA, however, refuses to acknowledge the record for the most goals in a calendar year, citing verifiability issues.<ref name="FIFA refuses to acknowledge Messi's record">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20727929 |title=Fifa refuses to back Lionel Messi or Godfrey Chitalu for goal record |publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 December 2012 |accessdate=30 June 2013}}</ref> On 18 December 2012, it was announced that Barcelona would renew the contract of Messi, extending it until 30 June 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barça has renewed the contracts of Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernández and Leo Messi |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/carles-puyol-xavi-hernandez-and-leo-messi-renew-their-contract-with-fc-barcelona |work=fcbarcelona.com publisher=FC Barcelona |date=18 December 2012 |accessdate=18 December 2012 }}</ref> The contract was signed 7 February 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Messi extends contract through 2018: "It's a fantastic day" |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/messi-extends-contract-through-2018 |publisher=FCBarcelona.com |date=7 February 2013 |accessdate=8 February 2013 }}</ref> |
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On 7 January 2013 odds-on favourite<ref name="BBC_3">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20910453 |title=Ballon d'Or contenders Messi, Ronaldo and Iniesta in profile |publisher=BBC |date=6 January 2013 |accessdate=7 January 2013 |last=Chowdhury |first=Saj }}</ref> Messi won the [[2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or]], again beating Cristiano Ronaldo into second place with team-mate Andrés Iniesta third. In doing this, Messi became the only player in history to win the Ballon d'Or four times.<ref name="CNN_Ballon2012">{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/07/sport/football/football-messi-wins-ballon-dor-ronaldo-iniesta/index.html?hpt=isp_c1 |title=Messi crowned world's best for record fourth time |publisher=CNN |date=7 January 2013 |accessdate=8 January 2013}}</ref> Messi described receiving the accolade as "really quite unbelievable" and "too great for words".<ref name="BBCBaloon2012">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20937775 |title=Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or ahead of Ronaldo & Iniesta |publisher=BBC |date=7 January 2013 |accessdate=8 January 2013}}</ref> The achievement fuelled media comparison of Messi with former greats of the sport such as Diego Maradona and Pelé.<ref name="BBCNewsbeat">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/20943498 |title=How does Lionel Messi stack up against football legends? |publisher=BBC |date=8 January 2013 |accessdate=8 January 2013 |last=Cairns |first=Dan}}</ref><ref name="BBC_Ballon2012_2">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20935498 |title=Lionel Messi’s fourth Ballon d’Or confirms player's legendary status |publisher=BBC |date=8 January 2013 |accessdate=8 January 2013 |last=McNulty |first=Phil }}</ref> |
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On 27 January 2013, Messi scored 4 goals in a 5–1 win against Osasuna, including his 200th goal in [[La liga records|La Liga]], becoming the eighth and youngest player to do so.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leo Messi breaks the 200-goal barrier in La Liga|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/leo-messi-breaks-the-200-goal-barrier-in-la-liga|accessdate=28 January 2012 }}</ref> This brought his La Liga tally for the season up to 33, and his goalscoring total to 44 goals in all competitions. On 16 February 2013, Messi scored his 300th Barcelona goal the La Liga match against [[Granada CF]], later scoring again in the match to bring his tally to 301 goals in 365 official matches.<ref>{{cite web |title=Primera Liga round-up: Lionel Messi inspires Barcelona as Malaga triumph |url=http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/8505573/Primera-Liga-round-up-Lionel-Messi-inspires-Barcelona-as-Malaga-triumph |publisher=TEAMtalk |date=16 February 2013 |accessdate=12 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Elkington |title=Lionel Messi passes 300 goals for Barcelona... |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/8315447/Lionel-Messi-passes-300-goals-for-Barcelona |publisher=Stuff.co.nz |date=17 February 2013 |accessdate=12 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=2013889.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_caption Messi brace pushes Barça past Granada] FIFA.com. Retrieved 18 February 2013</ref> On 2 March 2013, Messi scored a goal against Real Madrid in a match that Barcelona lost 2–1. With that goal, Lionel Messi equalled Alfredo Di Stefano's Clasico goals record of 18.<ref>{{cite news |title=Messi equals Di Stefano's Clasico goals record |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/news/messi-equals-di-stefanos-clasico-151900718--sow.html |publisher=Yahoo Sports |date=2 March 2013 |accessdate=2 March 2013 }}</ref> On 9 March 2013, Messi scored after coming on as a substitute against [[Deportivo de La Coruña]], scoring in his 17th consecutive league match and breaking the all-time world record.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/09/barcelona-deportivo-la-coruna-la-liga Lionel Messi's delicate chip seals Barcelona's victory over Deportivo], ''The Guardian'', 9 March 2013.</ref> Messi's record goalscoring run of 33 goals in 21 games ended against Atletico Madrid.<ref name=streak>{{cite web|title=Messi's Record Goal Scoring Streak Ends|url=http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/05/13/lionel-messis-record-goal-scoring-streak-ends/|accessdate=18 June 2013}}</ref> |
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On 12 March, Messi scored two goals, and helped create the fourth, to help Barcelona defeat [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] (4–0) in the second leg of their Champions League game and reach the quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Round of 16( CL 2013)|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/match-archive/2012-2013/champions-league/1-8-2nd-leg/fc-barcelona_milan|publisher=Fc Barcelona|accessdate=13 March 2013}}</ref> Messi's opening goal against Milan once again drew further comparisons between himself and Diego Maradona, due to the similarity between Messi's opening goal of the match and Maradona's famous goal against [[Greece national football team|Greece]] in the [[1994 World Cup]]. On 17 March 2013, in a match against [[Rayo Vallecano]], Messi wore the [[Captain (association football)|captain's armband]] for the first time in an official match for Barcelona, taking over after Andrés Iniesta was substituted.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/image_gallery/leo-messi-captains-fc-barcelona-for-the-first-time-in-an-official-match|title=Leo Messi captains FC Barcelona for the first time in an official match|date=18 March 2013|publisher=FC Barcelona}}</ref> On 30 March, Messi scored for the 19th consecutive La Liga game, netting Barcelona's second goal at [[Celta de Vigo]] and thus becoming the first footballer in La Liga's history to score in consecutive matches against every team.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/season/2012-2013/leo-messi-s-record-breaking-run-continues-becomes-first-player-to-score-against-19-opponents-consecutively|title=Leo Messi's record-breaking run continues; becomes first player to score against 19 opponents consecutively|date=30 March 2013|publisher=FC Barcelona}}</ref> |
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On 2 April 2013, after scoring a goal in a match against [[Paris Saint-Germain]], Messi suffered from a hamstring problem in his left leg and was substituted at half time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21989995|title=Champions League quarter-final Barcelona vs Paris St-Germain first leg|date=2 April 2013|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Since then his first team appearances have been irregular. On 13 May 2013, Messi was unable to finish the match against Atletico Madrid due to recurrence of the hamstring injury in his left leg, he was forced to leave the field midway through the second half.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2013/05/12/en/football/barcelona/1368388423.html|title=Messi unable to finish match due to injury|date=12 May 2013|publisher=Marca}}</ref> It was later announced that he could miss the rest of the season due to the injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22506157|title=Messi may miss last three games of the season|date=14 May 2013|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> |
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In the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona were down a goal, and Messi was on the bench due to a recurring injury problem. In the second half, Messi came off the bench and combined with [[David Villa]] to help create Pedro's game tying goal for Barcelona, which allowed them to progress to the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barcelona hail half-fit Lionel Messi for changing game against PSG|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/apr/11/barcelona-lionel-messi-psg|work=The Guardian|accessdate=18 June 2013|location=London|first=Sid|last=Lowe|date=11 April 2013}}</ref> Barcelona were eliminated in the semi-finals by the eventual winners of the competition, Bayern Munich. Barcelona were also eliminated in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, by arch-rivals Real Madrid. Barcelona, however, managed to regain the La Liga title from Real Madrid, equalling their record 100 point campaign, which had been accomplished during the previous season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barca equals 100 La Liga points record|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/laliga/story/barcelona-4-1-malaga-match-report-barca-equals-100-league-points-record-real-madrid-060113|accessdate=18 June 2013}}</ref> Messi once again finished as [[2012–13 La Liga|La Liga's]] top scorer for the second consecutive year, with 46 goals, also producing 12 assists in the competition. Messi scored 60 goals and provided 16 assists in all competitions that season. |
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===2013–14 season=== |
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[[File:Leo Messi v Almeria 020314 (cropped).jpg|thumbnail|Messi preparing to take a free-kick in La Liga match against [[UD Almeria|Almeria]].|left]] |
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Messi was nominated for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award, along with Cristiano Ronaldo and [[Franck Ribéry]], for a third consecutive year.<ref>{{cite web|title=UEFA Best Player in Europe Award|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/uefa-best-player-award/season=2013/nominees/index.html|accessdate=29 August 2013}}</ref> Ribéry won the award with 36 votes. Messi finished in second place with 14 votes, while Ronaldo finished in third-place with 3 votes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ribery voted Europe's best|url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/ChampionsLeague/Ribery-voted-Europes-best-20130829|publisher=Sport24.com|accessdate=15 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ribery beats Messi and Ronaldo to UEFA prize|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/champions-league-ribery-beats-messi-ronaldo-top-uefa-165728901.html|publisher=Yahoo.com|accessdate=15 September 2013}}</ref> |
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On 18 August 2013, Messi opened the [[2013–14 La Liga]] Season with two goals and an assist against Levante UD, as Barcelona went on to win the match 7–0.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lionel Messi shines, Neymar debuts in Barcelona rout of Levante |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130818/barcelona-levante-lionel-messi-neymar/|accessdate=29 August 2013 |work=CNN |date=18 August 2013 }}</ref> On 28 August, Barcelona claimed their 11th [[2013 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]] title over Atlético Madrid on away goals. |
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On 1 September, Messi scored his 23rd career hat-trick in a 3–2 win against Valencia CF. With these goals he became the player to score 100 away goals and become highest scorer in away fixtures in the league's history.<ref name=away_goals_record>{{cite news|title=Leo Messi breaks more records at Mestalla|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/leo-messi-breaks-more-records-at-mestalla|accessdate=2 September 2013|publisher=FCBarcelona.com}}</ref> These goals made him the sixth-highest goalscorer in [[Football records in Spain|the history of La Liga]], surpassing [[Quini|Quini's]] tally of 219.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/01/lionel-messi-barcelona-valencia-la-liga|title=Lionel Messi hattrick puts Barcelona on path to victory at Valencia|publisher=The Gurdian|accessdate=2 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Messi fires home his 23rd career hat trick for Barcelona |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/messi-fires-home-another-hat-trick-for-barcelona/article14069526/ |accessdate=2 September 2013 |location=Toronto |deadurl=yes }} {{Dead link|date=April 2014|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> On 18 September 2013, Messi scored his 24th career hat-trick in Barcelona's first [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] win of the season, at home against [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], which ended 4–0. The goals made him the second-highest goalscorer of all time in the [[Champions league records|Champions League]], with 62 goals, only behind Raúl, and the fourth-highest goalscorer of all time in [[UEFA club competition records and statistics|European Competitions]], with 63. With this hatrick Messi became the first player to score four hat tricks in the Champions League.<ref name=four_hat_tricks>{{cite news|title=Messi becomes first player to score 4 hat tricks in the Champions League |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/messi-becomes-first-player-to-ever-score-4-hat-tricks-in-the-champions-league|accessdate=20 September 2013|publisher=FCBarcelona.com}}</ref> On 10 November, Messi suffered an injury in a 4–1 away win against [[Real Betis]], which would keep him sidelined until January 2014. This was his third injury of the season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Real Betis vs. Barcelona: Messi injury sours Barca win|url=http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/373089/report.html|accessdate=16 December 2013}}</ref> |
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On 8 January 2014, Messi returned from injury to score twice for Barça in a 4–0 [[2013–14 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] win against Getafe.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25638389|title=Lionel Messi scores twice for Barcelona on injury return|date=8 January 2014|work=BBC}}</ref> On 13 January, he placed second in the [[2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or]], behind Cristiano Ronaldo.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25705654|title=Ballon d'Or: Cristiano Ronaldo beats Lionel Messi and Ribery|date=13 January 2014|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 15 February, Messi scored twice against Rayo Vallecano in a 6–0 win to overtake fellow Argentine [[Alfredo di Stéfano]] and draw level with Raúl as the third-highest goalscorer in La Liga history with 228 goals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26129121|title=Barcelona 6–0 Rayo Vallecano|date=15 February 2014|work=BBC}}</ref> |
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On 16 March 2014, Messi scored a hat-trick in a 7–0 defeat of Osasuna to overtake [[Paulino Alcántara]] as Barça's [[FC Barcelona records and statistics#Top scorers|top goalscorer]] in all competitions, including [[Exhibition match|friendlies]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26651301|title=Real Madrid v Barcelona: Has Ronaldo overtaken Messi?|date=22 March 2014|work=BBC}}</ref> On 23 March, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–3 win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu to become the outright all-time [[El Clásico#Goalscorers|top goalscorer]] in El Clásico fixtures, ahead of Di Stefano.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/23/lionel-messi-becomes-top-all-time-el-clasico-scorer-as-thrilling-match-is-2-2-at-half/|title=Lionel Messi becomes top El Clasico scorer as Barcelona beats Real Madrid in 4–3 thriller|date=23 March 2014|work=NBC}}</ref> These goals also enabled him to become the second highest goalscorer in La Liga, overtaking [[Hugo Sánchez]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Messi surpasses Hugo Sánchez as the second all-time scorer in La Liga and Di Stéfano as the top all-time scorer in Clásicos|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/messi-surpasses-hugo-sanchez-as-the-second-all-time-scorer-in-la-liga-and-di-stefano-as-the-top-all-time-scorer-in-clasicos|accessdate=2 July 2014 }}</ref> |
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Messi finished his club season with only one trophy, the [[2013 Supercopa de España|Spanish Super Cup]], as Barcelona finished as runners-up in [[2013–14 La Liga|La Liga]], behind Atletico Madrid, who had also eliminated them in the quarter-finals of the [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] that season. Barcelona were also defeated in the [[2014 Copa del Rey Final|Copa del Rey final]] by rivals Real Madrid, although Messi was the top scorer in the competition. Messi concluded the season with 41 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, but his 28 league goals in La Liga were not enough for him to defend the Pichichi trophy, which went to Cristiano Ronaldo, who managed 31 goals.<ref>[http://www.marca.com/2014/05/18/en/football/real_madrid/1400413422.html "Ronaldo clinches 'Pichichi' and shares Golden Shoe"]. Marc's. Retrieved 22 May 2014</ref> On 16 May 2014, Messi agreed a new contract with the ''Catalan'' club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agreement with Leo Messi |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/agreement-with-leo-messi |work=FC Barcelona |date=16 May 2014}}</ref> |
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===2014–15 season=== |
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[[File:Leo Messi v Granada 2014.jpg|thumbnail|Messi celebrating scoring a goal against [[Granada CF]] in October 2014.]] |
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Messi opened the [[2014–15 La Liga|2014–15 La Liga season]] for Barcelona by scoring twice in a 3–0 win over [[Elche CF]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Messi scores double as a 10-man Barcelona open La Liga season with comfy win|url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/messi-scores-double-as-barcelona-open-la-liga-season-with-comfy-win-over-elche-082414|accessdate=1 September 2014}}</ref> In the following match against [[Villareal CF]], he set up [[Sandro Ramírez|Sandro's]] match-winning goal, although he suffered an injury to an abductor muscle in his right hip.<ref>{{cite web|title=Liga, Villarreal-Barcellona 0-1: Il Barca va, Messi si ferma|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Liga/31-08-2014/liga-villarreal-barcellona-0-1-gol-sandro-ramirez-ora-real-sociedad-real-madrid-90315395543.shtml|accessdate=1 September 2014}}</ref> On 27 September, Messi scored his 400th professional career goal, aged just 27, in a 6–0 home win over [[Granada CF]]; he later added a second, and also provided two assists during the match.<ref>{{cite web|title=Liga, Barcellona-Granada 6-0: tripletta di Neymar, Messi 401 gol in carriera|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Liga/27-09-2014/liga-barcellona-granada-6-0-tripletta-neymar-messi-401-gol-carriera-90580077801.shtml|accessdate=27 September 2014}}</ref> In a post-match news conference he was lauded by his coach [[Luis Enrique (footballer)|Luis Enrique]], who stated: "It's like Messi was touched by a magic wand."<ref name="Messi 400">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29401482 "Lionel Messi hails 400 goals for Barcelona and Argentina"]. BBC. Retrieved 29 September 2014</ref> |
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On 18 October, Messi scored his 250th La Liga goal in a 3–0 home win over [[SD Eibar]], also assisting another goal. This goal took him to one strike from equalling [[Telmo Zarra]]'s all-time record of 251 [[La liga records|La Liga]] goals.<ref>{{cite web|title=AdTech Ad Primera Division: Messi hits 250-goal mark as Barcelona see off Eibar|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/326112/report|accessdate=20 October 2014}}</ref> Messi had previously celebrated the 10th anniversary of his club debut that week, on 16 October.<ref>{{cite web|title=The best quotes about Lionel Messi's 10 years at Barcelona|url=http://www.espnfc.com/club/barcelona/83/blog/post/2089807/the-best-quotes-about-lionel-messis-10-years-at-barcelona|accessdate=20 October 2014}}</ref> On 5 November, he scored both goals in Barcelona's 2–0 victory over [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], enabling his team to advance to the knock-out stage of the [[UEFA Champions League 2014–15|Champions League]] with two group games remaining. These goals increased Messi's tally to 71 goals in the competition, equalling [[Raúl (footballer)|Raúl's]] [[UEFA Champions League records and statistics|UEFA Champions League goal-scoring record]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Messi matches goal record as Barcelona advance |
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|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000548/match=2014358/postmatch/report/index.html|accessdate=5 November 2014|publisher=UEFA|date=5 November 2014|first=Derek|last=Brookman}}</ref> Messi scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 win over [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]] on 22 November to become the [[Spanish football top scorers#All time top scorers in La liga|all-time top scorer in La Liga]] with 253 goals, breaking the record of 251 held by [[Telmo Zarra]] since 1955.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barcelona 5-1 Sevilla|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30126430|accessdate=22 November 2014|work=BBC Sport|date=22 November 2014}}</ref> Three days later, he scored another hat-trick in a 4–0 win over [[APOEL FC|APOEL]] to become the outright top scorer in the history of the UEFA Champions League with 74 goals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Apoel Nic 0-4 Barcelona|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29363780|accessdate=25 November 2014|work=BBC Sport|date=25 November 2014}}</ref> |
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On 7 December 2014, Messi scored his third consecutive hat-trick in Barcelona's 5–1 home win over local rivals [[RCD Espanyol]], which allowed him to surpass [[César Rodríguez Álvarez|Cesár]] as the top goalscorer in the [[Derbi barceloní]], with 12 goals.<ref name="marca.com">{{cite web|title=Messi se apunta al 'hat-trick': tres en los últimos cuatro partidos|url=http://www.marca.com/2014/12/07/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1417976576.html|accessdate=14 January 2015}}</ref> On 11 January 2015, Barcelona's "holy trinity" of Messi, [[Neymar]] and [[Luis Suárez]] scored in a 3–1 home win over defending La Liga champions [[Atlético Madrid]]. Messi's goal enabled him to end his goal drought against the Madrid club; he also set up Suárez's goal during the match.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2905786/Barcelona-3-1-Atletico-Madrid-Lionel-Messi-Luis-Suarez-Neymar-no-crisis-Catalonia.html "Barcelona 3-1 Atletico Madrid: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar combine to lift the gloom"]. Daily Mail. Retrieved 12 January 2015</ref> On 12 January 2015, Messi placed second in the [[2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or]], behind Cristiano Ronaldo, for the second consecutive year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ballon d’Or: Cristiano Ronaldo can inspire Lionel Messi to win again, says Graham Hunter|url=http://www1.skysports.com/watch/tv-shows/revista-de-la-liga/news/9642998/ballon-d8217or-cristiano-ronaldo-can-inspire-lionel-messi-to-win-again-says-graham-hunter|accessdate=12 January 2015}}</ref> |
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On 8 February, Messi scored a goal and made his 104th and 105th La Liga assists in a 2–5 away win over [[Athletic Bilbao]], equalling the record held by [[Luís Figo]] for the most assists made in La Liga history.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona as they moved within a point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid after winning a breathless encounter at Athletic Bilbao|url=http://bbc.com/sport/football/31142854|publisher=BBC.com|date=8 February 2015}}</ref> In the next League game, on 15 February, his 300th La Liga appearance, he scored a hat-trick and made his 106th La Liga assist in a 5–0 home win over [[Levante UD|Levante]], surpassing Figo as the player with most assists in La Liga;<ref name="most la liga assists">{{cite news|title=LIONEL MESSI BREAKS DOUBLE LA LIGA ASSIST RECORDS WITH A HATTRICK|url=http://dailymail.com.ng/lionel-messi-breaks-double-la-liga-assist-records-with-a-hattrick/ |publisher=DailyMail.com|date=15 February 2015}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Assists statistics [http://dailymail.com.ng/lionel-messi-breaks-double-la-liga-assist-records-with-a-hattrick/ began in 1990]|group=note}} he also drew level with Zarra for the most hat-tricks scored for a Spanish team in all competitions (31), and with Cristiano Ronaldo, for the most hat-tricks in La Liga (23).<ref name="spanish hat-tricks">{{cite news|title=Lionel Messi equals La Liga hat-trick record as Barcelona thrash Levante|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/15/match-report-barcelona-levante-lionel-messi-hat-trick|publisher=TheGuardian.com|date=15 February 2015}}</ref> On 8 March, Messi scored a 12-minute hat-trick, the fastest of his career, and also set up another goal in a 6–1 win over [[Rayo Vallecano]] at the Camp Nou.<ref name="fastest messi hat trick">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2985005/Barcelona-6-1-Rayo-Vallecano-Lionel-Messi-second-half-hat-trick-Luis-Suarez-double-fuel-win-Barca-La-Liga.html|title=Barcelona 6-1 Rayo Vallecano: Lionel Messi 12-minute hat-trick (his fastest ever) and Luis Suarez double fuel win to move Barca top of La Liga... as both teams have a man sent off in hectic game|date=8 March 2015|work=Daily Mail}}</ref> With this hat-trick, he equalled Ronaldo's 30 goals in the current season, and also surpassed the record of Zarra with the most hat-tricks for a Spanish club in all competitions, and surpassed Ronaldo's record with the most hat-tricks in La Liga.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel Messi surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo to set hat trick record|url=http://www.espnfc.us/barcelona/story/2337476/lionel-messi-surpasses-cristiano-ronaldo-to-set-new-liga-hat-trick-record|website=http://www.espnfc.us|publisher=ESPN FC|accessdate=8 March 2015|date=8 March 2015}}</ref> |
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On 18 April, Messi scored his 400th goal for Barcelona in a 2–0 home win over Valencia in La Liga, also setting up Suárez's opening goal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel Messi nets 400th goal as Barcelona beat Valencia to extend lead|url=http://www.espnfc.com/barcelona/story/2393956/lionel-messi-scores-400th-goal-for-barcelona-in-all-competitions|website=http://www.espnfc.com|publisher=ESPN FC|accessdate=18 April 2015|date=18 April 2015}}</ref> On 6 May, Messi scored twice and assisted another as Barcelona defeated Bayern Munich 3–0 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Camp Nou; this was his 77th goal in his 100th appearance, overtaking [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] as the [[UEFA Champions League]] all-time top scorer in the process.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel Messi puts in magical display as Barcelona beat Bayern Munich|url=http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-champions-league/match/419900/barcelona-bayern-munich/report|publisher=ESPN FC|accessdate=6 May 2015|date=6 May 2015}}</ref> On 17 May 2015, Messi scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Atlético Madrid at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, which allowed Barcelona to clinch the La Liga title.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kieran |last=Canning |title=Messi leads Barca's road from crisis club to champions |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/news/messi-leads-barcas-road-crisis-club-champions-204905659--sow.html |publisher=Yahoo Sports |date=17 May 2015 |accessdate=18 May 2015 }}</ref> On 30 May, he scored twice as ''Barça'' defeated Athletic Club 3–1 at Camp Nou in the [[2015 Copa del Rey Final]] to win the domestic [[Double (association football)|double]] for the second time in his career.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32938036|title=Ath Bilbao 1-3 Barcelona|date=30 May 2015|work=BBC}}</ref> |
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On 6 June 2015, Messi started for ''Barça'' in the [[2015 UEFA Champions League Final]], as the club won its fifth [[European Champion Clubs' Cup|European Cup]] by beating [[Juventus F.C.|Juventus]] 3–1 at Berlin's [[Olympiastadion Berlin|Olympiastadion]]. Although he went scoreless throughout the match, he participated in each of his team's goals; in the 68th minute, he forced a parried save from [[Gianluigi Buffon]], from which Suárez subsequently scored the match-winning goal on the rebound.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000552/match=2015227/postmatch/report/index.html|title=Barcelona see off Juventus to claim fifth title|date=6 June 2015|work=UEFA}}</ref> The victory made FC Barcelona the first club in history to win [[Treble (association football)|the treble]] of the domestic league, domestic cup and European Cup twice.<ref name=triple>{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/barca-make-history-with-second-treble|title=Barça make history with second treble!|date=6 June 2015|work=FC Barcelona}}</ref> Messi, [[Andrés Iniesta]], [[Xavi|Xavi Hernández]], [[Gerard Piqué]], [[Pedro (footballer, born July 1987)|Pedro Rodríguez]], [[Sergio Busquets]] and [[Dani Alves]] are the only players to have been a part of both treble winning teams.<ref name=triple/> |
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Messi ended the 2014–15 season with 43 goals and 18 assists in La Liga, making him the league's highest assister, and the second highest scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espnfc.com/spanish-primera-division/15/statistics/assists|title=Statistics|accessdate=7 June 2015|work=ESPN}}</ref> He was joint top scorer in the Champions League alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.afp.com/en/news/hot-shot-neymar-realises-champions-league-dream|title=Hot-shot Neymar realises Champions League dream|date=6 June 2015|work=Agence France-Presse}}</ref> and was also the highest assist provider, with 6 assists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/statistics/index.html|title=Satistics|publisher=UEFA|accessdate=10 June 2015}}</ref> The forward line of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suárez ended with 122 goals, the highest for a season by a Spanish team in history, Messi himself scoring the most with 58 goals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/06/barcelona-luis-suarez-lionel-messi-juventus-champions-league-final|title=Barcelona’s Luis Suárez, Leo Messi and Neymar too good for Juventus|date=6 June 2015|work=The Guardian}}</ref> |
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==International career== |
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Often referred to as an Argentine-Spanish player, this crossover was brought into sharp focus when in 2004, Messi was offered the chance to play for the [[Spain national under-21 football team|Spanish national U-20 team]]. He declined the offer given his Argentine heritage, and was given the opportunity to play for Argentina's U-20 team in a [[Exhibition game|friendly match]] against [[Paraguay national under-20 football team|Paraguay]] in June 2004.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lionel Messi Biography |url=http://www.lionelmessi.com/biography/ |publisher=Lionelmessi.com |accessdate=7 July 2009 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080802154715/http://lionelmessi.com/biography/ |archivedate=2 August 2008 }}</ref> Messi scored once against Paraguay and twice in friendly against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] the following month.<ref name="sub20amistosos">[http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2004/07/05/pagina-8/767342/pdf.html Estreno espectacularde Messi]. El Mundo Deportivo, 1 July 2004; [http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2004/07/05/pagina-10/1521339/pdf.html Messi brilla otra vez con la Sub-20 albiceleste]. El Mundo Deportivo, 4 July 2004</ref> In 2005 he was part of a team that finished third in the [[2005 South American Youth Championship|South American Youth Championship]] in Colombia. He won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands with the team and received both the [[2005 FIFA World Youth Championship#Awards|Golden Ball]] and the Golden Shoe,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=104/edition=9102/index.html|title=FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005|publisher=FIFA|accessdate=7 July 2009}}</ref> having scored in the last four of Argentina's matches and netting a total of six for the tournament. |
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At age 18, Messi made his full international debut on 17 August 2005 against [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]]. He was substituted on during the 63rd minute, but was [[Ejection (sports)|sent off]] on the 65th minute because the referee, [[Markus Merk]], claimed that Messi had allegedly elbowed defender [[Vilmos Vanczák]], who was tugging Messi's shirt. The decision was contentious and Diego Maradona even claimed the decision was pre-meditated. Messi was later reportedly found weeping in the changing rooms after the decision.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_football/4172400.stm|title=Messi handles 'new Maradona' tag |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 August 2005 |accessdate=7 July 2009|last=Vickery |first=Tim}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.people.com.cn/200508/20/eng20050820_203655.html|title=Argentine striker Messi recalled for World Cup qualifier|work=People's Daily|date=20 August 2005 |accessdate=7 July 2009}}</ref> Messi returned to the team on 3 September in Argentina's 1–0 [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|World Cup qualifier]] away defeat to [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]]. Ahead of the match he had said, "This is a re-debut. The first one was a bit short."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=178848&cc=5739|title=Messi tries again as Argentina face Paraguay|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=2 September 2005 |accessdate=7 July 2009}}</ref> He then started his first game for Argentina in a World Cup qualifier against [[Peru national football team|Peru]], in which he was able to win a crucial penalty for Argentina to win the match; after the match national coach [[José Pékerman]] described Messi as "a jewel".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2005/oct/10messi.htm|title=Messi is a jewel says Argentina coach|publisher=Rediff|date=10 October 2005 |accessdate=7 July 2009 |last=Homewood|first=Brian}}</ref> He scored his first goal for Argentina in a friendly match against [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]] on 1 March 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel MESSI enters Argentina Top 10|url=http://www.mundoalbiceleste.com/Article.aspx?id=2649|accessdate=16 June 2012}}</ref> |
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===2006 World Cup=== |
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An injury that kept Messi from playing for two months at the end of the 2005–06 season jeopardised his presence in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]]. Nevertheless, Messi was selected in the Argentina squad for the tournament on 15 May 2006. He also played in the final match before the World Cup against the Argentine U-20 team for 15 minutes and a friendly match against [[Angola national football team|Angola]] from the 64th minute.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/argentina/5047440.stm|title=Messi comes of age|publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 June 2006 |accessdate=7 July 2009 |last=Vickery |first=Tim }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/argentina/5023884.stm|title=Argentina allay fears over Messi|publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2006 |accessdate=7 July 2009}}</ref> |
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He witnessed Argentina's opening match victory against [[Côte d'Ivoire national football team|Ivory Coast]] from the substitutes' bench.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kicker.de/fussball/wm/startseite/artikel/350938|title=Messi weiter auf der Bank|publisher=Kicker.de|date=13 June 2006 |accessdate=7 July 2009 |language=German}}</ref> |
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In the next match against [[Serbia and Montenegro national football team|Serbia and Montenegro]], Messi became the youngest player to represent Argentina at a World Cup when he came on as a substitute for [[Maxi Rodríguez]] in the 74th minute.<ref>[http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=95803/profile/ "Lionel Messi profile"]. UEFA.com. Retrieved 27 June 2014</ref><ref name="Serbia"/> He assisted [[Hernán Crespo]]'s goal within minutes of entering the game and also scored the final goal in the 6–0 victory, making him the youngest scorer in the tournament and the sixth youngest goalscorer in the history of the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]].<ref name="Serbia">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853028.stm|title=Argentina 6–0 Serbia & Montenegro|publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 June 2006 |accessdate=7 July 2009}}</ref> Messi started in Argentina's following 0–0 draw against the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853328.stm|title=Holland 0–0 Argentina|publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 June 2006 |accessdate=7 July 2009}}</ref> |
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In the following [[2006 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Argentina vs Mexico|game against Mexico]], Messi came on as a substitute in the 84th minute, with the score tied at 1–1. He appeared to score a goal, but it was ruled [[offside (association football)|offside]] with Argentina needing a late goal in [[extra time]] to proceed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/worldcup06/2006/06/26/rodriguez_finds_an_answer_but.html|title=Rodríguez finds an answer but many questions still remain|work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=26 June 2006 |accessdate=7 July 2009 |last=Walker |first=Michael }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991492.stm|title=Argentina 2–1 Mexico (aet)|publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 June 2006 |accessdate=7 July 2009}}</ref> José Pekerman left Messi on the bench during the quarter-final match against [[Germany national football team|Germany]], which they lost 4–2 on a [[Penalty shootout (association football)|penalty shootout]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991602.stm |title=Germany 1–1 Argentina |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 June 2006 |accessdate=7 July 2009 }}</ref> |
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===2007 Copa América=== |
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Messi played his first game in the [[2007 Copa América]] on 29 June 2007, when [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] defeated [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] 4–1 in the first game. In this game, he showed his capabilities as a [[playmaker]]. He set up a goal for fellow striker Hernán Crespo and had numerous shots on target. [[Carlos Tevez]] came on as a substitute for Messi in the 79th minute and scored minutes later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6252156.stm|title=Tevez Nets In Argentina Victory|publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 June 2007 |accessdate=11 October 2008}}</ref> |
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[[File:Messi in Copa America 2007.jpg|thumb|left|Messi in a semi-final match against [[Peru national football team|Peru]] during the [[2007 Copa América]] on 8 July 2007]] |
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His second game was against [[Colombia national football team|Colombia]], in which he won a penalty that Crespo converted to tie the game at 1–1. He also played a part in Argentina's second goal as he was fouled outside the box, which allowed [[Juan Roman Riquelme]] to score from a free kick, and increase Argentina's lead to 3–1. The final score of the game was 4–2 in Argentina's favor and guaranteed them a spot in the tournament's quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6263888.stm|title=Argentina into last eight of Copa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 July 2007 |accessdate=11 October 2008}}</ref> |
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In the third game, against [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] the coach rested Messi having already qualified for the quarter-finals. He came off the bench in place of [[Esteban Cambiasso]] in the 64th minute, with the score at 0–0. In the 79th minute, he assisted a goal for [[Javier Mascherano]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.conmebol.com/competiciones_evento_reporte.jsp?evento=1055&ano=2007&dv=1&flt=C&id=18&slangab=E|title=Argentina-Paraguay|publisher=Conmebol|date=5 July 2007 |accessdate=28 May 2009 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070929133942/http://www.conmebol.com/competiciones_evento_reporte.jsp?evento=1055&ano=2007&dv=1&flt=C&id=18&slangab=E |archivedate=29 September 2007}}</ref> In the quarter-finals, as Argentina faced Peru, Messi scored the second goal of the game, from a Riquelme pass in a 4–0 win.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6282908.stm|title=Argentina and Mexico reach semis|publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 July 2007 |accessdate=11 October 2008}}</ref> During the semi-final match against [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]], Messi scored a lob over [[Oswaldo Sánchez]] to see Argentina through to the final with a 3–0 win.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6294930.stm|title=Messi's Magic Goal|publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 July 2007 |accessdate=11 October 2008}}</ref> Argentina went on to lose 3–0 to [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in [[2007 Copa América Final|the final]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6899694.stm|title=Brazil victorious in Copa America|publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 July 2007 |accessdate=28 May 2009}}</ref> Messi was elected young player of the tournament.<ref name="livesoccertv.com">{{cite web|title=Player Profile: Lionel Messi – Player to Watch|url=http://www.livesoccertv.com/news/3856/copa-america-2011-lionel-messi-profile-player-to-watch/|accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref> |
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===2008 Summer Olympics=== |
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[[File:Messi olympics-soccer-7.jpg|thumb|Messi playing against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in the semi-finals of the [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Olympics]] on 19 August 2008]] |
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Having barred Messi from playing for Argentina in the [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Olympics]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2510034/Lionel-Messi-out-of-Olympics-after-Barcelona-win-court-appeal-against-Fifa.html|title=Lionel Messi out of Olympics after Barcelona win court appeal against Fifa|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=6 August 2008 |accessdate=27 May 2009 }}</ref> Barcelona agreed to release him after he held talks with newly appointed coach Pep Guardiola.<ref name="Messi Olympics">{{cite news|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hBwBdQawHH84xSfUkq2uo3w1nwvA|title=Barcelona give Messi Olympics thumbs-up|agency=Agence France-Presse |date=7 August 2008 |accessdate=27 May 2009}}{{dead link|date=July 2014}}</ref> He joined the Argentina squad and scored the first goal in a 2–1 victory over [[Ivory Coast national under-23 football team|Ivory Coast]].<ref name="Messi Olympics"/> He then scored the opening goal and assisted [[Ángel Di María]] in the second to help his side to a 2–1 extra-time win against the [[Netherlands national under-21 football team|Netherlands]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/matches/round=250022/match=300051809/summary.html|title=Messi sets up Brazil semi|publisher=FIFA|date=16 August 2008 |accessdate=27 May 2009|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090412024404/http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/matches/round=250022/match=300051809/summary.html <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archivedate=12 April 2009}}</ref> He also featured in Argentina's match against rivals [[Brazil Olympic football team|Brazil]], in which Argentina took a 3–0 victory, thus advancing to the final. In the gold medal match, Messi again assisted Di María for the only goal in a 1–0 victory over [[Nigeria national under-23 football team|Nigeria]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2008-08-23-860591452_x.htm|title=Argentina beats Nigeria 1–0 for Olympic gold|last=Millward |first=Robert |work=USA Today |date=23 August 2008 |accessdate=27 May 2009}}</ref> |
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===2010 World Cup qualification=== |
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On 28 March 2009, in a [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|World Cup qualifier]] against [[Venezuela national football team|Venezuela]], Messi wore the number 10 jersey for the first time with Argentina. This match was the first official match for Diego Maradona as the Argentina manager. Argentina won the match 4–0 with Messi opening the scoring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=230046&cc=5739|title=Argentina 4–0 Venezuela: Messi the star turn|date=28 March 2009 |accessdate=7 July 2009 |publisher=Allaboutfcbarcelona.com}}</ref> Overall, Messi scored four goals in 18 appearances during the [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|South American 2010 World Cup qualifying process]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/preliminaries/southamerica/topscorers/index.html|title=2010 FIFA World Cup top-scorers in preliminaies|work=[[FIFA]]|publisher=fifa.com|accessdate=1 July 2013}}</ref> |
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===2010 World Cup=== |
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[[File:Messi Podolski Boateng bench 2010.jpg|thumb|left|Messi and Argentina lost 4–0 against [[Germany national football team|Germany]] in the quarter-finals of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]].]] |
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In the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], Messi wore the number 10 shirt for the first time in a major tournament. He played the entire game on Argentina's opening match of the tournament, the 1–0 victory against [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]]. He had several opportunities to score but was repeatedly denied by Nigerian goalkeeper [[Vincent Enyeama]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/news/7814324/Argentina-1-Nigeria-0-match-report.html|title=Argentina 1 Nigeria 0: match report|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=12 June 2010 |accessdate=12 June 2010 |first=Ian |last=Chadband}}</ref> who was named [[man of the match]] by FIFA.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jun/12/argentina-nigeria-world-cup-group-b|title=World Cup 2010: Gabriel Heinze gives Argentina the perfect start|date=12 June 2010|accessdate=8 August 2013|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Messi started in Argentina's following 4–1 win against [[Korea Republic national football team|Korea Republic]]; he played in more of an attacking midfielder and playmaking role under Maradona,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|title=Argentina vs. S. Korea, 2010 World Cup – Formations|url=http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/24/79/59/20%5f0617%5farg-kor%5ftacticalstartlist.pdf|accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="3 June 2012">{{cite web|title=Argentina vs. Korea: 4–1 – World Cup 2010|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/world-cup/argentina-korea-republic-361819.html}}</ref> and participated in all of the goals of his team, helping [[Gonzalo Higuaín]] score a hat-trick.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/news/7830449/Argentina-4-South-Korea-1-match-report.html|title=Argentina 4 South Korea 1: match report|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=17 June 2010 |accessdate=17 June 2010 |first=Ian |last=Chadband}}</ref> In the [[2010 FIFA World Cup Group B#Greece vs Argentina|third group match]], Messi was named [[Captain (association football)|captain]] for Argentina in a 2–0 win over [[Greece national football team|Greece]]. He was again the centrepoint of Argentina's play, playing an important role in both of his team's goals,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jun/22/world-cup-2010-greece-argentina|title=World Cup 2010: Argentina's two late goals send Greece packing|date=22 June 2010|accessdate=8 August 2013|work=The Guardian}}</ref> and was voted man of the match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/news/7842201/Greece-0-Argentina-2-match-report.html|title=Greece 0 Argentina 2: match report|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=22 June 2010 |accessdate=22 June 2010 |first=Rory |last=Smith}}</ref> |
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At the [[2010 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Argentina vs Mexico|Round of 16]] he assisted a controversial goal to [[Carlos Tevez]] for the first goal in a 3–1 win against [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]]. The World Cup ended for Argentina with a 4–0 loss against [[Germany national football team|Germany]] in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Argentina vs Germany|quarter-finals]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/news/7868494/Argentina-0-Germany-4-match-report.html|title=Argentina 0 Germany 4: match report|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=3 July 2010 |accessdate=3 July 2010 |first=Duncan |last=White}}</ref> |
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Messi was nominated in ten player shortlist for [[Golden Ball (FIFA)|Golden Ball]] award by FIFA Technical Study Group. The group identified Messi with the following words: "Outstanding in his pace and creativity for his team, dribbling, shooting, passing – spectacular and efficient".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/news/newsid=1270753/index.html|title=adidas Golden Ball nominees announced|publisher=FIFA|date=9 July 2010|accessdate=4 September 2011}}</ref> |
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===2011 Copa América=== |
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[[File:Suisse vs Argentine - Granit Xhaka & Lionel Messi.jpg|thumb|Messi (right) challenging [[Granit Xhaka]] for the ball during an international friendly between [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] and Argentina on 29 February 2012]] |
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On 17 November 2010, Messi scored a [[last-minute goal]] against South American rivals Brazil after an individual effort to help his team to a 1–0 win in the friendly match, which was held in [[Doha]]. This was the first time that he had scored against Brazil at senior level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lionel-messi.co.uk/news/magic-messi-leads-argentina-over-brazil.html|title=Magic Messi leads Argentina over Brazil|date=17 November 2010 |accessdate=19 November 2010 |publisher=lionel-messi.co.uk}}</ref> Messi scored another last-minute goal on 9 February 2011 against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] from a [[penalty kick]] which gave his side a 2–1 victory in the friendly match, which was held in [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]]. He had also previously assisted the first goal. |
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Messi took part in the [[2011 Copa América]] in Argentina, where he failed to score a goal but made three assists, finishing as the joint top assist provider of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Copa América Statistics: Player Goal Assists|url=http://www.statbunker.com/competitions/MostAssists?comp_id=355|accessdate=12 September 2013}}</ref> He was selected as man of the match in the group matches against [[Bolivia national football team|Bolivia]] (1–1) and [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] (3–0). Argentina were eliminated in the quarter-finals in a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]] against the eventual winners of the Copa América, Uruguay (1–1 [[Overtime (association football)|a.e.t.]]), with Messi scoring as the first penalty taker.<ref name="Copa">[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2015636/COPA-AMERICA-2011-Argentina-1-Uruguay-1--Uruguay-win-5-4-penalties.html "Argentina 1 Uruguay 1 (aet Uruguay win 5–4 on pens): Tevez penalty miss costs hosts place in semis"]. DailyMail. Retrieved 26 May 2014</ref> Messi had also previously assisted [[Gonzalo Higuaín|Higuaín's]] equaliser in the 17th minute.<ref name="Copa"/> |
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===2014 World Cup qualification=== |
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After Argentina's unsuccessful performance in the Copa América, [[Sergio Batista]] was replaced as Argentina coach with [[Alejandro Sabella]]. In August 2011, Sabella named Messi as the new permanent captain of the Argentina national team.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/950982/alejandro-sabella-names-lionel-messi-as-argentina-captain|title=Messi named Argentina captain|date=30 August 2011|publisher=ESPN}}</ref> Messi's first hat-trick for the ''Albiceleste'' came in a friendly match against [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]], on 29 February 2012, in a 3–1 win for Argentina. |
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On 9 June 2012, Messi scored his second international hat-trick in a friendly match against rivals Brazil, including the match winner. The match ended 4–3 to Argentina and Messi was voted man of the match.<ref>{{cite news|title=Argentina vs. Brazil: 4–3|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/lionel-messi/9322483/Lionel-Messi-scores-hat-trick-as-Argentina-beat-Brazil-4-3-in-New-Jersey.html|accessdate=10 June 2012 |location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=10 June 2012}}</ref> This brought his international goalscoring tally up to 26 goals in 70 matches, and brought his 2012 tally up to 7 goals in 3 matches. This was also his record-breaking 82nd goal of the season, including all club and international matches.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lionel Messi's 2nd international hat trick leads Argentina over Brazil 4–3 in exhibition|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/lionel-messis-2nd-international-hat-trick-leads-argentina-over-brazil-4-3-in-exhibition/2012/06/09/gJQA4hl5QV_story.html|accessdate=10 June 2012 |deadurl=yes}} {{Dead link|date=August 2012|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> These goals also made him the fourth-highest goalscorer for the Argentine national team.<ref>{{cite web|title=Messi ends season with 82 goals|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/messi-ends-season-with-82-goals|accessdate=9 September 2012}}</ref> |
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On 7 September, Messi scored his 28th goal for Argentina in a 3–1 victory against Paraguay in a [[2014 World Cup qualification|2014 World Cup qualifying match]], sending them to the top of the [[CONMEBOL]] [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|World Cup qualifying]] table. This was his fourth goal in the current World Cup qualifying campaign and his eighth overall in World Cup qualifying matches, making him the third-highest scorer for Argentina in World Cup qualifying matches. This was also his tenth goal for Argentina in the past six matches and his ninth in five matches played in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Argentina coach Sabella: Messi is happy|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/news/argentina-coach-sabella-messi-happy-132000265--sow.html|accessdate=9 September 2012}}</ref> After scoring twice against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] and once against Chile in October, Messi finished 2012 with 12 goals in nine appearances for Argentina.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/barcelonas-lionel-messi-becomes-most-decorated-player-in-history-after-winning-unprecedented-fourth-straight-ballon-dor-8441605.html|title=Barcelona's Lionel Messi becomes most decorated player in history after winning unprecedented fourth straight Ballon d'Or|date=7 January 2013|publisher=The Independent|location=London|first=Majid|last=Mohamed}}</ref> |
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On 22 March 2013, Messi scored his first international goal of 2013 from the penalty spot in a World Cup qualifier against [[Venezuela national football team|Venezuela]]. In the same match he provided two assists for Gonzalo Higuaín as Argentina won 3–0.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2044048/index.html|title=Messi, Higuain power Argentina past Venezuela|date=23 March 2013|work=FIFA}}</ref> On 14 June 2013, Messi scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 friendly win against [[Guatemala national football team|Guatemala]], surpassing Diego Maradona's 34 goals on [[Argentina national football team#Top goalscorers|Argentina's all-time top scorer's list]] and matching Hernán Crespo for second with 35 goals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jun/15/lionel-messi-hat-trick-overtakes-maradona|title=Lionel Messi overtakes Maradona's Argentina tally with hat-trick|date=15 June 2013|accessdate=24 June 2013|work=The Guardian|location=London}}</ref> Messi surpassed Crespo's tally in the [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2014 World Cup qualifier]] against Paraguay, scoring two goals from penalties as well as providing an assist for [[Sergio Agüero]]. The match finished 5–2 to Argentina, ensuring their qualification for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 World Cup]] with two matches at hand. Messi ended the [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]] campaign as [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)#Goalscorers|second-top scorer]] in the South American section with ten goals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/southamerica/statistics/topscorers.html|title=Top scorers|accessdate=16 October 2013|work=FIFA}}</ref> On 7 June 2014, Messi scored in a 2–0 win against [[Slovenia national football team|Slovenia]] in a pre-World Cup friendly match, coming on as a substitute; this was his first goal for his national side in the year 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Argentina 2–0 Slovenia: Lionel Messi scores to lay down marker ahead of World Cup |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2651511/Argentina-2-0-Slovenia-Lionel-Messi-scores-lay-marker-ahead-World-Cup.html|publisher=Daily Mail|accessdate=8 June 2014}}</ref> |
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===2014 World Cup=== |
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Messi captained Argentina in their first match of the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]], leading them to a 2–1 win over [[Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team|Bosnia and Herzegovina]] on 15 June.<ref name="Bosnia">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25285099 "Argentina 2–1 Bosnia Herzegovina"]. BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 June 2014</ref> Argentina's opening goal came after three minutes when Messi's cross into the box from a free kick was met by Argentina defender [[Marcos Rojo]] whose header was deflected into the net by [[Sead Kolašinac]].<ref name="Bosnia"/> In the 65th minute, Messi scored Argentina's second, going on a trademark dribbling run past three players, after a one-two exchange with [[Gonzalo Higuaín|Higuaín]], before scoring from the edge of the penalty area via a slight deflection off [[Mensur Mujdža]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/world-cup-2014-watch-messi-3702393|title=World Cup 2014: Watch Messi score wonder goal for Argentina against Bosnia|date=16 June 2014|accessdate=16 June 2014|work=Daily Mirror}}</ref> It was his first World Cup goal since scoring against [[Serbia and Montenegro national football team|Serbia and Montenegro]] on his World Cup debut in a 6–0 win in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 tournament]]. In the team's second game, Messi scored a stoppage time winner against [[Iran national football team|Iran]] with a strike from 25 yards out which curled into the left corner of the goal.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/10916423/Argentina-vs-Iran-World-Cup-2014-live.html "Argentina vs Iran, World Cup 2014"]. The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 June 2014</ref> This was Messi's 40th international goal, and the 1–0 win ensured Argentina qualified for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup knockout stage|knockout stage]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25285221|title=Argentina 1–0 Iran|date=21 June 2014|accessdate=22 June 2014|work=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/21/argentina-v-iran-world-cup-2014-live|title=Argentina v Iran: World Cup 2014 – as it happened|date=21 June 2014|accessdate=22 June 2014|work=The Guardian}}</ref> In the team's third group match on 25 June, Messi took his tally in the tournament to four goals, scoring twice in a 3–2 win against [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]], his second a free kick, as Argentina finished first in their group.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25285406|title=Nigeria 2–3 Argentina|date=25 June 2014|accessdate=26 June 2014|work=BBC}}</ref> Messi was elected man of the match in all three of Argentina's group games.<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 FIFA World Cup – Argentina vs. Bosnia: 2–1; Man of the Match: Lionel Messi|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186466/man-of-the-match.html|accessdate=27 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2014 FIFA World Cup – Argentina vs. Iran: 1–0; Man of the Match: Lionel Messi|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186466/man-of-the-match.html|accessdate=27 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2014 FIFA World Cup – Nigeria vs. Argentina: 2–3; Man of the Match: Lionel Messi|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186458/man-of-the-match.html|accessdate=27 June 2014}}</ref> |
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[[File:Germany and Argentina face off in the final of the World Cup 2014 -2014-07-13 (24).jpg|thumb|Messi battling Germany's [[Mats Hummels]] for the ball at the [[2014 FIFA World Cup Final]]]] |
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In Argentina's [[2014 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Round of 16|round of 16]] match against [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]], Messi assisted [[Ángel Di María]]'s match winning goal in the 118th minute, giving Argentina a 1–0 win after [[Overtime#Association football|extra time]]. After receiving the ball from [[Rodrigo Palacio]], Messi began a dribbling run, taking it past [[Fabian Schär]], and laying the ball off for Di María to score.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27990606|title=Argentina 1–0 Switzerland|date=1 July 2014|accessdate=2 June 2014|work=BBC}}</ref> Messi was once again elected man of the match.<ref>{{cite web|title=Argentina vs. Switzerland: 1–0 – Man of the Match: Lionel Messi|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255951/match=300186503/man-of-the-match.html|accessdate=2 July 2014 }}</ref> In the [[2014 FIFA World Cup knockout stage#Quarter-finals|quarter-final]] match against [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]], Messi started the play which led to Higuaín's match winning goal, sending Argentina to the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time since [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mondiale, Argentina-Belgio 1–0. Higuain scaccia il tabù quarti|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Mondiali/05-07-2014/mondiale-argentina-belgio-1-0-higuain-scaccia-tabu-quarti-801143676780.shtml|accessdate=13 July 2014}}</ref> Argentina eliminated the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]], 4–2 on penalties in the [[2014 FIFA World Cup knockout stage|semi-final]], after a 0–0 draw following extra time, allowing them to progress to the World Cup Final for the first time since Maradona had led them there in 1990. Messi was heavily marked by the Dutch and didn't score,<ref name="uk.eurosport.yahoo.com">[https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/the-rio-report/mueller-world-cup-superstar-messi-wishes-could-132854319.html]</ref> but he netted Argentina's first penalty in the shootout.<ref>{{cite web|title=Netherlands vs Argentina: 0–0 (2–4)|url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28122293|accessdate=13 July 2014}}</ref> |
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[[File:Cristina Fernández y la Selección Argentina de fútbol 2014 ,3.jpg|thumb|left|Messi (bottom left) and members of the Argentina national team with Argentina president [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner|Cristina Kirchner]] on 14 July after the 2014 FIFA World Cup]] |
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On 11 July, Messi was named on the 10-man shortlist by the FIFA technical committee for FIFA's [[2014 FIFA World Cup#Golden Ball|Golden Ball]] award for the tournament's best player.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28274011|title=World Cup 2014: Fifa announces Golden Ball shortlist|date=11 July 2014|accessdate=12 July 2014|work=BBC}}</ref> The [[2014 World Cup final|World Cup final match]] on 13 July, in a repeat of the 1990 final, was billed as the world's best player [Messi] versus the world's best team [Germany].<ref name="uk.eurosport.yahoo.com"/><ref>[http://online.wsj.com/articles/the-world-cup-final-the-best-team-vs-the-best-player-1405115575 "The World Cup Final: The Best Team vs. the Best Player"]. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 15 July 2014</ref> In the 29th minute, Messi had started a play which led to a goal by Higuaín, which was correctly ruled offside. Messi missed several opportunities to open the scoring throughout the match, in particular during his breakaway at the 47th minute, when his effort was put just wide of the far post. The game remained scoreless until German substitute [[Mario Götze]] scored in the 113th minute, then in the last minutes of extra time Messi's free kick sailed over the net, and Germany won the game 1-0 to claim the World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|title=LIONEL MESSI WATCH: Argentina's star left to rue missed chances as Germany strike late to claim World Cup 2014 crown |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2690693/LIONEL-MESSI-WATCH-Argentinas-star-left-rue-missed-chances-Germany-strike-late-claim-World-Cup-2014-crown.html|accessdate=14 July 2014}}</ref> |
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Messi finished as the joint-third-highest goalscorer of the tournament, with four goals and an assist, though [[Neymar]] received the [[World Cup Golden Boot|Bronze Boot]] due to the tie-breaking criteria of playing fewer minutes than Messi. Messi's goals against Nigeria and Bosnia and Herzegovina were nominated for the goal of the tournament award, and were voted the ninth and eighth best goals of the tournament, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Goal of the Tournament|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/goal-of-the-tournament/|website=www.fifa.com|accessdate=17 July 2014}}</ref> Messi's four Man of the Match awards were the most of any player in the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel Messi Wins Golden Ball at 2014 World Cup|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2126337-lionel-messi-wins-golden-ball-at-2014-world-cup|accessdate=13 July 2014}}</ref> |
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At the conclusion of the World Cup final, Messi was awarded the [[2014 FIFA World Cup#Golden Ball|Golden Ball]], as the tournament's best player, ahead of [[Thomas Müller]] and [[Arjen Robben]], and was named in the [[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|FIFA World Cup All-Star Team]]. Messi created the most chances, made the most successful dribbling runs, made the most deliveries into the box, and produced the most throughballs of any other player throughout the World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|title=World Cup Final: Was Lionel Messi really a disappointment in Brazil or have we just become numb to his genius?|url=http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cup-2014/news/15241/9381511/world-cup-final-was-lionel-messi-really-a-disappointment-in-brazil-or-have-we-just-become-numb-to-his-genius|accessdate=14 July 2014}}</ref> However, the decision to award Messi the Golden Ball sparked controversy amongst the media, as Messi had no goals and just one assist (in the Round of 16 match) during the knockout round. FIFA President [[Sepp Blatter]] was surprised at the choice of Messi for the Golden Ball, while Argentina's former captain and coach Diego Maradona suggested that "marketing people" had chosen the wrong player for the award.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28294339 "World Cup 2014: Lionel Messi Golden Ball surprised Sepp Blatter"]. BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 July 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/brazil2014/diego-maradona-lionel-messi-didn-t-deserve-golden-ball-1.2706626 "Diego Maradona: Lionel Messi didn't deserve Golden Ball"]. CBC. Retrieved 15 July 2014</ref> On his award and the final, Messi commented: "I do not care about the Golden Ball. I am just upset by the wasted chances. We had the best chances. We knew we could not dominate the game but we knew what we wanted to do. Right now I do not care about my prize. I just wanted to lift the cup and bring it to Argentina. The pain is very great."<ref>[http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/world-cup/inconsolable-messi-admits-golden-ball-means-nothing-30431241.html "Inconsolable Messi admits Golden Ball 'means nothing"]. Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 July 2014</ref> |
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===2015 Copa América=== |
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Messi scored from a penalty kick in Argentina's opening fixture of the [[2015 Copa América]], a 2–2 draw with [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] in [[La Serena, Chile|La Serena]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Argentina 2-2 Paraguay|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33081605|accessdate=14 June 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=14 June 2015}}</ref> In the final group game against {{nft|Jamaica}} at the [[Estadio Sausalito]] in [[Viña del Mar]] on 20 June, Messi earned his [[FIFA Century Club|100th cap]], becoming the fifth Argentine to do so after [[Javier Zanetti]], [[Javier Mascherano]], [[Roberto Ayala]] and [[Diego Simeone]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Coerts|first1=Stefan|title=Messi wins 100th Argentina cap|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3710/copa-america/2015/06/20/12918342/messi-wins-100th-argentina-cap?ICID=HP_BN_1|accessdate=20 June 2015|publisher=Goal.com|date=20 June 2015}}</ref> |
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==Style of play== |
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[[File:Messi Copa America 2011.jpg|thumb|upright|Messi, playing for Argentina in 2011, has been compared to compatriot Diego Maradona and two-time [[FIFA Ballon d'Or|FIFA]]/[[Ballon d'Or (1956–2009)|Ballon d'Or]] winner, [[Cristiano Ronaldo]].]] |
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Messi has been compared to compatriot Diego Maradona, due to their [[New Maradona|similar playing style and stature]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Maradona proclaims Messi as his successor|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-02/25/content_523966.htm|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref> which gives him a lower centre of gravity than most players, allowing him to be more agile and change direction more quickly, helping him to evade opposing tackles.<ref name="corriereil">{{cite web|title=Controllo, corsa, tocco di palla Perché nel calcio piccolo è bello|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/aprile/08/Controllo_corsa_tocco_palla_Perche_co_9_100408088.shtml|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref> His short, strong legs allow him to excel in short bursts of acceleration and his quick feet allow him to keep control of the ball when dribbling at speed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel Messi – the new Maradona?|url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=347644.html|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref> His former FC Barcelona manager, Pep Guardiola, once stated: "Messi is the only player that runs faster with the ball than he does without it."<ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel Messi|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/cfa0d296-8672-11e0-9d5c-00144feabdc0.html|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref> Like Maradona before him, Messi is predominantly a left footed player;<ref>{{cite web|title=Diego Maradona believes Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo|url=http://www.givemefootball.com/european-news/maradona-messi-better-than-shampoo-commercial-rona|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel Andrés Messi Profile|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/staff/players/messi|website=http://www.fcbarcelona.com|accessdate=21 February 2015}}</ref> during the 2014-15 season however, he was able to partially improve his ability with his weaker foot.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leo Messi getting off on the right foot|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/leo-messi-getting-off-on-the-right-foot|website=http://www.fcbarcelona.com|accessdate=21 February 2015}}</ref> 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 [[Assist (football)|assists]] to team mates.<ref name="corriereil"/> Messi is widely regarded as one of the best players of all time and, alongside Portuguese forward [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], as one of the two best players in the world and of his generation.<ref name="Simunic"/><ref name="Muller"/><ref name="Wenger"/><ref name="Beckham"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Del Potro: Messi's the best player in the world|url=http://www.marca.com/2013/05/28/en/football/barcelona/1369765243.html|publisher=Marca.com|accessdate=15 September 2013}}</ref> |
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Due to his pace, stamina, and technical ability, Messi often undertakes individual [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] runs towards goal, in particular during counterattacks, usually starting from the halfway line, or the right side of the pitch. However, he has also been described as a well-rounded, hard-working team player, known for his creative combinations, in particular with Barcelona midfield team mates Xavi and Iniesta.<ref>{{cite news|title=10: Strength – Lionel Messi: 10 reasons why he's the world's greatest player|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/picturegalleries/7523132/Lionel-Messi-10-reasons-why-hes-the-worlds-greatest-player.html?image=9|accessdate=25 July 2012 |location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=30 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="barcablaugranes1">{{cite web|title=Lionel Messi: The Complete Footballer (Part Two: Passing/Vision)|url=http://www.barcablaugranes.com/2011/9/16/2430028/lionel-messi-the-complete-footballer-part-two-passing-vision|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 3: Lionel Messi once again lights up El Clasico|url=http://www.periscopepost.com/2011/12/real-madrid-1-barcelona-3-lionel-messi-once-again-lights-up-el-clasico/|accessdate=7 September 2012}}</ref> He is also an accurate [[Direct free kick|free kick]] and [[penalty kick]] taker.<ref>{{cite web|title=From Messi to Ronaldo – the world's best free-kick takers|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/telebest/sport/from-messi-to-ronaldo--the-worlds--best-freekick-takers-14784405.html|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref> With regard to his dribbling ability, Maradona has said of Messi: "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."<ref name="corriereil"/> Maradona considers Messi to currently be the greatest player in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Diego blasts Pele's Messi-Neymar claim|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1048426/diego:-pele-%27stupid%27-to-rate-neymar-over-messi|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Maradona: Cristiano Ronaldo will never reach Messi's level|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/news/maradona-cristiano-ronaldo-never-reach-123900688--sow.html|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref> Despite being neither physically imposing nor dominant in the air, due to his small stature and physique, Messi possesses notable upper-body strength, which, along with his balance and control, aids him in protecting the ball and withstanding physical challenges from opponents.<ref>{{cite web|title=10: Strength - Lionel Messi: 10 reasons why he's the world's greatest player|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/picturegalleries/7523132/Lionel-Messi-10-reasons-why-hes-the-worlds-greatest-player.html?image=9|website=http://www.telegraph.co.uk|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> |
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Tactically, Messi plays a free attacking role;<ref name=2012FT/> a prolific goalscorer, he is known for his finishing, skill, positioning, quick reactions,<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/picturegalleries/7523132/Lionel-Messi-10-reasons-why-hes-the-worlds-greatest-player.html "Lionel Messi: 10 reasons why he's the world's greatest player"]. The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 December 2014</ref> and his ability to make attacking runs to beat the defensive line.<ref name="corriereil"/> He also functions in a [[Playmaker|playmaking]] role, due to his vision and precise passing.<ref name="barcablaugranes1"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel Messi|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/45843/lionel-messi|accessdate=2 September 2012}}</ref> A versatile player, Messi is capable of playing anywhere along the front line, as he is comfortable attacking on either wing or through the centre of the pitch.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leo Messi: Professional Profile|url=http://www.leomessi.com/eng/index.html|accessdate=25 July 2012}}{{dead link|date=July 2013}}</ref> He began his career as a [[Left winger (football)|left-winger]] or as a [[Second striker|left-sided forward]], but was later moved onto the [[Right winger (football)|right wing]] by former Barcelona manager [[Frank Rijkaard]], who noticed that from this position, Messi could cut through the defence into the middle of the pitch more easily, allowing him to [[Curl (football)|curl]] shots on goal with his left foot, rather than predominantly [[Cross (football)|crossing]] balls for team mates.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|title=Lionel Messi|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/cfa0d296-8672-11e0-9d5c-00144feabdc0.html|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref> He has more recently played as a [[Striker (football)|striker]], and in a "[[Forward (association football)#False 9|false 9]]" role under Guardiola.<ref name="blogspot1">{{cite web|title=The False 9: Guardiola's Barcelona-Reinventing Total Football|url=http://thefalse9.blogspot.ca/2012/04/guardiolas-barcelona-reinventing-total.html|accessdate=25 July 2012}}</ref> This role is characterised by Messi's apparent tendency to play as a [[centre forward]], or as a lone striker, although he will often run back into deep positions, drawing defenders with him. His movement creates space for wingers, other forwards, and attacking midfielders to make runs, allowing him to provide them with assists, or giving him space to begin dribbling runs, and score goals or create attacking plays.<ref name="blogspot1"/> With the Argentina national team, Messi usually plays anywhere along the [[Forward (association football)|front line]]. He began as a [[Deep-lying forward|supporting forward]], [[Striker (football)|striker]], or winger, but recently he has also played in a deeper, creative role, as an [[Attacking midfielder|attacking midfield]] playmaker.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref name="3 June 2012"/> |
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===Comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo=== |
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{{main|Messi–Ronaldo rivalry}} |
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[[File:Cristiano Ronaldo (L), Lionel Messi (R) – Portugal vs. Argentina, 9th February 2011 (1).jpg|thumb|Messi with [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] before an international friendly between [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] and [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] in Geneva, Switzerland on 9 February 2011]] |
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Both players have scored in two [[UEFA Champions League]] finals and have regularly broken the 50 goal barrier in a single season. Both have scored over 400 goals in their career for club and country.<ref name="Messi 400"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/cristiano-ronaldo/10555284/Cristiano-Ronaldo-reaches-400-goal-milestone-and-dedicates-achievement-to-Eusebio-after-Real-Madrid-win.html |title=Cristiano Ronaldo reaches 400-goal milestone and dedicates achievement to Eusébio after Real Madrid win |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=7 January 2014 |accessdate=13 January 2014}}</ref> Sports journalists and pundits regularly argue the individual merits of both players in an attempt to argue who they believe is the best player in modern football.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mendes |first=Chris |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/cristiano-ronaldo/10923614/World-Cup-2014-Cristiano-Ronaldos-personal-duel-with-Lionel-Messi-is-affecting-his-performances-for-Portugal.html |title=Cristiano Ronaldo's personal duel with Lionel Messi is affecting his performances for Portugal |date=24 June 2014 |accessdate=30 September 2014 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref> It has been compared to legendary [[List of sports rivalries|sports rivalries]] such as the [[Muhammad Ali]]-[[Joe Frazier]] rivalry in boxing which culminated with the [[Thrilla in Manila]], the [[Borg–McEnroe rivalry]] in tennis, and the [[Ayrton Senna]]-[[Alain Prost]] rivalry from [[Formula One]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hunter |first=Graham |url=http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/5842703/el-clasico-all-ronaldo-vs-messi |title=The game's best rivalry |date=28 November 2010 |accessdate=30 September 2014 |work=ESPN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/news/21227/7235124/messi-v-ronaldo |title=Messi v Ronaldo |date=17 October 2011 |accessdate=30 September 2014 |work=Sky Sports}}</ref> |
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{{Quote box |width=25% |align=left |quoted=1 |quote=Even before he [Ronaldo] signed for Madrid, I knew he would be my great rival in the following years. |salign=right |source=— Messi commenting on his rivalry with Ronaldo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2013/03/05/3800582/messi-ronaldo-destined-to-be-my-rival |title=Messi: Ronaldo destined to be my rival |publisher=Goal.com |date=5 March 2013 |accessdate=8 August 2014}}</ref>}} |
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Some commentators choose to analyse the differing physiques of the two,<ref>{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Rob |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/sports/soccer/14iht-soccer14.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |title=Ronaldo May Look Like the Best, but There Is Someone Better |date=13 September 2011 |accessdate=30 September 2014 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> while part of the debate revolves around the contrasting personalities of the two players: Ronaldo is depicted as an arrogant and theatrical showoff, while Messi is portrayed as a shy, humble character.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hayward |first=Paul |url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/may/26/cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-champions-league |title=Cristiano Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi pits showman against shy man |date=26 May 2009 |accessdate=30 September 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Tim |url=http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2013/nov/24/cristiano-ronaldo-real-madrid-portugal-football |title=Cristiano Ronaldo: he's got a god-given talent – and he knows it |date=24 November 2013 |accessdate=30 September 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Calvin |first=Michael |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/the-last-word-crunch-time-for-lionel-messi-and-cristiano-ronaldo-9537924.html |title=Crunch time for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo |date=15 June 2014 |accessdate=30 September 2014 |work=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Storey |first=Daniel |url=http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cup-2014/news/15241/9350562/ronaldo-the-world8217s-best |title=Ronaldo: The world’s best? |date=16 June 2014 |accessdate=30 September 2014 |work=Sky Sports}}</ref> |
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With Messi and Ronaldo representing bitter Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two players face each other at least twice every season in the world's biggest club game, ''[[El Clásico]]'', which had a global audience of 400 million viewers in March 2014.<ref name="Forbes 2014"/> Off the field, they are the face of two rival sportswear giants, Messi of [[Adidas]] and Ronaldo of [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]].<ref>[http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/nike-vs-adidas-adds-faces-world-cup-sports-marketing-rivalry-n116371 "Nike vs Adidas Adds Faces to World Cup Sports Marketing Rivalry"]. NBC. Retrieved 1 October 2014</ref> The two highest paid players in football, Ronaldo and Messi are among the world's best paid sports stars: in 2013, Ronaldo was second earning $80 million, and Messi was fourth with $64.7 million.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/basketball/28272054 "LeBron James: Cleveland Cavaliers return for NBA star"]. BBC. Retrieved 1 October 2014</ref> They have the two biggest social media followings in the world among sportspeople with a combined 138 million Facebook fans by May 2014.<ref name="Forbes 2014">[http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2014/05/16/lionel-messi-agrees-to-new-50-million-a-year-deal-with-barcelona/ "Lionel Messi Reaches $50 Million-A-Year Deal With Barcelona"]. Forbes. Retrieved 1 October 2014</ref> |
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Many figures in the sport have cited Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as being the two best players of their generation, such as [[Johan Cruyff]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/international/johan-cruyff-praises-both-lionel-messi-and-cristiano-ronaldo/162905 |title=Cruyff Praise For Messi And Ronaldo |publisher=SL International |date=19 May 2014 |accessdate=7 August 2014}}</ref> Diego Maradona<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/5456/international-football/2014/06/11/4875101/ronaldo-messi-the-best-of-their-generation-maradona |title=Ronaldo & Messi the best of their generation - Maradona |publisher=Goal.com |date=11 July 2014 |accessdate=7 August 2014}}</ref> and the Brazilian [[Ronaldo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.7msport.com/news/newsdata/20121129/81402.shtml |title=Brazil legend Ronaldo: Messi will beat Cristiano to the Ballon d'Or |publisher=7M Sports |date=29 November 2012 |accessdate=9 December 2012}}</ref> The two players have been named the world's best player by [[FIFA]] every year since 2008: [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] (Ronaldo 2008, Messi 2009) and [[FIFA Ballon d'Or]] (Messi 2010, 2011, 2012, Ronaldo 2013, 2014).<ref>[http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html#player "FIFA Awards - World Player of the Year - Winners"]. RSSSF. Retrieved 30 September 2014</ref> Cristiano Ronaldo's former Real Madrid manager, [[José Mourinho]], once stated: "If both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were born in different eras, they would have ruled the football scene and collected 10 FIFA Ballon d'Ors each."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ronaldo7.net/news/2012/498-jose-mourinho-cristiano-ronaldo-deserves-the-fifa-balon-dor-this-season.html |title=José Mourinho: "Cristiano Ronaldo deserves the FIFA Balon d'Or this season" |publisher=Ronaldo7.net |date=13 May 2012 |accessdate=3 July 2012}}</ref> |
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==Outside football== |
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===Personal life=== |
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[[File:Lionel Messi (2009).jpg|thumb|Messi during a Barcelona training session at the [[Camp Nou]] on 21 May 2009]] |
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Messi was at one stage romantically linked to Macarena Lemos, also from his hometown of Rosario. He is said to have been introduced to her by the girl's father when he returned to Rosario to recover from his injury a few days before the start of the 2006 World Cup.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gente.com.ar/nota.php?ID=11359|title=Lionel me prometió venir a mi cumple de quince después del Mundial|publisher=Gente Online|accessdate=18 June 2009 |language=Spanish}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vefutbol.com.mx/notas/16849.html |title=Aún le mueve el tapete a Messi |publisher=El Universal |date=19 June 2008 |accessdate=18 June 2009 |language=Spanish |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090531053417/http://www.vefutbol.com.mx/notas/16849.html |archivedate=31 May 2009 }}</ref> He has in the past also been linked to the Argentine [[glamour model]] [[Luciana Salazar]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://elcomercio.pe/ediciononline/html/2008-06-20/luciana-salazar-la-nueva-novia-messi.html|title=Luciana Salazar, ¿la nueva novia de Messi?|publisher=El Comercio|date=20 June 2008 |accessdate=18 June 2009 |language=Spanish}}</ref><ref name="Messi y Antonella pasean"/> |
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In January 2009, he told "Hat Trick Barça", a programme on [[Canal 33]]: "I have a girlfriend and she is living in Argentina. I am relaxed and happy".<ref name="Messi y Antonella pasean">{{cite news|url=http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=590154&idseccio_PK=1028|title=Messi y Antonella pasean por el Carnaval de Sitges su noviazgo|work=El Periódico de Catalunya|date=25 February 2009 |accessdate=18 June 2009|language=Spanish|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090610003322/http://www.elperiodico.com/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=590154&idseccio_PK=1028 |archivedate=10 June 2009}}</ref> He was seen with the girl, Antonella Roccuzzo,<ref name="Roccuzzo">{{cite news|url=http://www.calciomercato.it/news/46787/Messi-a-dicembre-sogni-doro!.html|title=Messi, a dicembre... sogni d'oro|publisher=Calcio Mercato News|date=21 April 2009 |accessdate=13 July 2009 |language=Italian}}</ref> at a carnival in [[Sitges]] after the Barcelona-Espanyol derby. Roccuzzo is a fellow native of Rosario.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.taringa.net/posts/noticias/2213473/La-verdad-sobre-la-nueva-novia-de-Messi__.html|title=La verdad sobre la nueva novia de Messi|publisher=Taringa|date=24 February 2009 |accessdate=18 June 2009 |language=Spanish}}</ref> On 2 June 2012, Messi assisted and scored a goal in Argentina's 4–0 win against Ecuador in a [[World Cup 2014]] Qualifying match. He celebrated scoring his 23rd goal for Argentina, by placing the ball under his jersey, as his girlfriend was reportedly 12 weeks pregnant. She posted on [[Twitter]] that she expected to give birth in September.<ref>{{cite web|title=Messi show...da papà!|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio_Estero/Primo_Piano/03-06-2012/messi-show-papa-vidal-fa-volare-cile-911422444067.shtml|accessdate=3 June 2012}}</ref> Messi stated that the child, a son, would be born in October, and that he and his girlfriend would name him Thiago. |
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However, the birth came later than expected. On 2 November 2012, Messi became a father for the first time following the birth of his son Thiago. FC Barcelona's official website briefly stated "Leo Messi is a father". Furthermore, the Argentine striker added on his [[Facebook]] page: "Today I am the happiest man in the world, my son was born and thanks to God for this gift!"<ref name=Thompson/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/item/198785-lionel-messis-girlfriend-gives-birth-to-baby-boy-thiago|title=Lionel Messi's girlfriend gives birth to baby boy -Thiago |accessdate=2 November 2012}}</ref> He also had the boy's name and handprints tattooed on his left calf.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/03/21/lionel-messi-tattoo_n_2923875.html |title=Lionel Messi Has Tattoo Of Son Thiago's Handprints |work=Huffington Post |date=21 March 2013 |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> |
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To celebrate his son's first birthday, Messi and Thiago were part of a publicity campaign for [[UNICEF]].<ref name=UNICEF>{{cite web|title=Leo & Thiago Messi Celebrate Life|url=http://www.unicef.org/messithiago/en/|accessdate=9 June 2014}}</ref> Those who signed up and participated in the social-media campaign had the chance to win a pair of Messi's shoes or a signed Messi T-shirt.<ref name=UNICEF /> |
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Messi has two cousins also involved in football: brothers [[Maxi Biancucchi|Maxi]] and [[Emanuel Biancucchi]], who play for Brazil's [[Esporte Clube Bahia|Bahia]].<ref name=esporteclubebahia>{{cite news|title=Dose dupla: Bahia anuncia irmãos Emanuel e Maxi Biancucchi|trans_title=Double dose: Bahia confirm signings of brothers Emanuel and Maxi Biancucchi|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/bahia/noticia/2014/01/dose-dupla-bahia-anuncia-irmaos-emanuel-e-maxi-biancucchi.html|accessdate=January 9, 2014|newspaper=Globo Esporte|date=January 9, 2014|language=Portuguese}}</ref> |
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In 2013, Messi, a devout Roman Catholic, met [[Pope Francis]], himself a fan of Argentine club [[San Lorenzo de Almagro|San Lorenzo]], at the Vatican, with Messi stating; “Without a doubt, today was one of the most special days of my life. We have to excel on and off the field.”<ref>[http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2013/08/13/pope-francis-meets-argentine-and-italian-football-stars-in-rome/ "Pope Francis welcomes Argentine and Italian football stars to the Vatican"]. Catholic Herald. Retrieved 8 June 2014</ref> |
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Messi has maintained close ties to Rosario and his family since leaving for Spain, and has gone to great lengths to maintain them. He keeps in daily contact via phone and text with a small group of confidants from Rosario, most of them fellow members of "The Machine of '87". One time when he was in training with the Argentina national team in Buenos Aires, he made a three-hour trip by car to Rosario immediately after practice to have dinner with his family, spent the night with them, and then returned to Buenos Aires the next day in time for practice. Messi has also kept ownership of his old house in Rosario, although his family no longer lives in it; he maintains a penthouse apartment in an exclusive residential building in which his mother lives (Messi's father spends most of his time in Spain with him), as well as a family compound just outside the city.<ref name=Thompson/> |
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===Charity=== |
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In 2007, Messi established the Leo Messi Foundation, a charity supporting access to education and health care for vulnerable children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fundacionleomessi.org/nuestra-fundacion.php |title=Fundación Leo Messi – Nuestra Fundación |publisher=Fundacíon Leo Messi |accessdate=7 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fundacionleomessi.org/index.php |title=Fundación Leo Messi – Home |publisher=Fundacíon Leo Messi |accessdate=7 June 2010}}</ref> In response to Messi's own childhood medical difficulties, the Leo Messi Foundation has offered Argentine children diagnosed with illnesses treatment in Spain and funds covering the transport, hospital and recuperation costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.leo-messi.net/new-foundation-lionel-messi__921.aspx/ |title=Foundation Lionel Messi |publisher=En.leo-messi.net |accessdate=7 June 2010}}{{dead link|date=December 2012}}</ref> Messi's foundation is supported by his own fundraising activity with additional assistance from [[Herbalife]]. |
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On 11 March 2010, Messi was announced as a [[goodwill ambassador]] for [[UNICEF]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unicef.org/media/media_52938.html |title=UNICEF to announce Lionel Messi as Goodwill Ambassador |work=Press centre |publisher=UNICEF |accessdate=30 March 2010}}</ref> Messi's UNICEF ambassador activities are aimed at supporting children’s rights. Messi is supported in this by Barcelona, who also have a strong association with UNICEF.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unicef.org/media/media_52938.html |title=Press centre – UNICEF to announce Lionel Messi as Goodwill Ambassador |publisher=[[UNICEF]] |accessdate=7 June 2010}}</ref> |
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He and Newell's have also ended a long public feud. Messi funded the construction of a dormitory inside [[Estadio Marcelo Bielsa|Newell's stadium]] for the club's youth academy, as well as a new gymnasium for the club. For their part, Newell's has begun to embrace their ties with Messi, and plans to issue a special club membership card to Messi's son.<ref name=Thompson/> |
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In March 2013, Lionel Messi donated €600,000 towards the refurbishment of a children's hospital in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina. The money was used to renovate the oncology unit at the Victor J Vilela Children's Hospital, as well as paying for doctors to travel to Barcelona for training.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/2013/03/09/en/football/barcelona/1362859034.html |title=Messi helps mission against child cancer |publisher=Marca.com |date=9 March 2013 |accessdate=12 March 2013 }}</ref> |
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In January 2015, Messi teamed up with tennis star [[Serena Williams]] as ambassadors in a new campaign, called '''1 in 11''' (represents the number of children worldwide who are unable to attend school), the result of a collaboration between [[UNICEF]], the [[F.C. Barcelona|F.C. Barcelona Foundation]], and [[Reach Out To Asia]] (ROTA). The campaign's aim is to help children around the world reach their potential through sport and education by raising funds for education programmes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2903694/Lionel-Messi-Serena-Williams-team-charitable-campaign-1-11.html|title=Lionel Messi and Serena Williams team-up for charitable campaign '1 in 11' as they seek to improve education for children|publisher=DailyMail.com |date=11 January 2015}}</ref> |
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===Wealth=== |
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In March 2010, ''[[France Football]]'' ranked Messi at the top of its list of the world's richest footballers, ahead of [[David Beckham]] and [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], with €33 million ($45 million) in combined income from salaries, bonuses and off-field earnings for the previous 12 months.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Davey-Becks-no-longer-the-world-s-best-paid-foot?urn=sow-229808 |title=Davey Becks no longer the world's best paid footballer |date=23 March 2010 |first=Brooks |last=Peck |accessdate=9 January 2012 |publisher=Yahoo!}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/messi-tops-rich-list-ahead-of-beckham/242045-5-21.html |title=Messi tops rich list ahead of Beckham – Sports – Football – ibnlive |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |date=23 March 2012 |accessdate=28 July 2012}}</ref> In May 2014, ''[[Forbes]]'' ranked Messi second behind Cristiano Ronaldo in their list of the world's highest paid players with earnings of $65 million in the previous 12 months.<ref>{{cite web |title=The world's highest paid football players |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/christinasettimi/2014/05/07/the-worlds-highest-paid-soccer-players-3/ |publisher=Forbes.com |date=7 May 2014 |accessdate=8 May 2014 }}</ref> |
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====Salary==== |
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In December 2012, Barcelona announced that Messi would sign a five-year contract extension which will keep him at the club until 2018 and raising his base salary to €16 million ($21.2 million) net, which will make him the highest on-field earner in football. As the tax bracket for this level of income in Spain is 56%, it means that Barcelona will have to pay Messi's income tax of a little over €20 million ($26.5 million).<ref>{{cite news |first=Agustino |last=Fontevecchia |title=FC Barcelona Giving Lionel Messi A Raise After A Record 2012 |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/afontevecchia/2012/12/19/fc-barcelona-giving-lionel-messi-a-raise-after-his-record-year/ |publisher=Forbes.com |date=19 December 2012 |accessdate=8 May 2014 }}</ref> His formal buy-out clause remains at €250 million.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sid |last=Lowe |title=Lionel Messi agrees new contract to stay at Barcelona until 2018 |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/dec/18/lionel-messi-new-contract-barcelona-2018 |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media |location=London |date=18 December 2012 |accessdate=8 May 2014 }}</ref> |
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====Sponsorships==== |
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In September 2012, Messi became the global brand ambassador of [[Turkish Airlines]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/corporate/press-room/press-releases/15924/argentine-soccer-star-leo-messi-named-global-brand-ambassador-for-turkish-airlines |title=Argentine Soccer Star Leo Messi Named Global Brand Ambassador For Turkish Airlines |publisher=Turkish Airlines |date=6 December 2012 |accessdate=6 December 2012 }}</ref> Messi shot a commercial for the airline with [[NBA]] star [[Kobe Bryant]]. In the airline's latest commercial, the duo competes to win the attention of a young boy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruav0KvQOOg|title=Kobe vs Messi: Legends on Board|publisher=Turkish Airlines|date=6 December 2012 |accessdate=6 December 2012}}</ref> Messi appeared in a 2012 television advert for Japanese face wash Scalp-D.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/slideshow/2471/49/title/the-goal-rich-list-2013 |title=The Goal Rich list 2013: 2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – £115.5m |publisher=Goal.com |date=25 February 2013 |accessdate=14 May 2013}}</ref> In December 2013, Messi appeared in an advertisement for South Korean company [[Samsung]], along with 10 other football players from around the globe, as the captain of a Galaxy XI managed by German football legend [[Franz Beckenbauer]].<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2525709/Cristiano-Ronaldo-Lionel-Messi-Falcao-Wayne-Rooney-Mario-Gotze-Oscar-Iker-Casillas-Franz-Beckenbauer-star-Samsung-advert.html "Rooney boxing, Ronaldo playing volleyball and Messi stopped on the street by Beckenbauer as they team up for the World XI"]. Daily Mail. Retrieved 25 August 2014</ref> |
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In February 2014, Messi appeared in a [[Gillette (brand)|Gillette]] advertisement with tennis star [[Roger Federer]]. He was announced as the global face of the company's international football campaign. Gillette has also become a partner of the Leo Messi Foundation to support its mission.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Yahoo finance|title=Gillette Announces Lionel Messi as New Global Ambassador|url=http://finance.yahoo.com/news/gillette-announces-lionel-messi-global-140000065.html |date=2 February 2014}}</ref> |
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====Tax evasion==== |
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Messi's father, Jorge Horacio Messi, was under investigation for an alleged €4 million in unpaid taxes from 2007 to 2009. Messi and his father were accused of channelling funds through the United Kingdom and Switzerland, to a number of shell companies set up in tax havens of Belize and Uruguay, in order to shield royalties and other licensing income from Spanish income tax which allowed them to avoid paying around €4.165 million.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-22877408]</ref><ref>[http://www.theweek.co.uk/football/53569/lionel-messi-could-face-six-years-jail-if-tax-fraud-proved]</ref> |
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The elder Messi made a payment of over €5 million in August 2013 to cover the unpaid taxes, plus interest. The prosecutor originally agreed that Jorge was responsible for the tax schemes and recommended that the charges be dismissed. However, a Barcelona court stated that there was sufficient evidence proving that the younger Messi should have known about and consented to the tax scheme and ordered them both to stand trial on tax evasion charges in autumn 2014.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2014/07/28/spanish-court-moving-forward-with-messi-tax-evasion-case/]</ref><ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/lionel-messi-fails-to-get-tax-fraud-charges-dropped-1.2720171]</ref><ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/tax-fraud-case-against-lionel-messi-goes-ahead-141828006.html]</ref> |
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===Media=== |
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[[File:Messi car.jpg|thumb|An example of Messi's popularity and influence, photographed in India]] |
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Messi was featured alone on the front covers of the video games ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer 2009]]'' and ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer 2011]]'' and was also involved in promotional campaigns for the games.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gamezine.co.uk/news-story/2008/08/01/konami-names-messi-as-face-of-pes-2009|title=Konami names Messi as face of PES 2009|publisher=Gamezine.co.uk|date=1 August 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pesunites.com/eng/index.htm|title=Messi|publisher=PES Unites |accessdate=9 June 2009|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090603173802/http://www.pesunites.com/eng/index.htm <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archivedate=3 June 2009}}</ref> Messi, along with [[Fernando Torres]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.videogamer.com/news/torres_signs_for_pes_2010.html|title=Torres signs for PES 2010|publisher=Videogamer.com|date=23 June 2009 |accessdate=7 July 2009|last=Orry|first=James}}</ref> was the joint face of ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer 2010]]'', and was also involved in the [[motion capturing]] and the [[Film trailer|trailer]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.games.konami-europe.com/blog.do;jsessionid=E3F32E431E73A1D6AF0B71D695498692|title=Motions and Emotions in Barcelona|publisher=Konami|date=8 June 2009 |accessdate=9 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.games.konami-europe.com/news.do;jsessionid=A2FD1270B2C75DE70A52446CBF821D5A?idNews=411|title=E3 2009: PES 2010: Messi fronts exclusive E3 trailer|publisher=Konami|date=2 June 2009 |accessdate=9 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pesfan.com/news/8212537/Messi-mo-cap-photos/|title=MOTD magazine crew meet Messi in Barcelona|publisher=PESFan (Match of the Day Magazine)|accessdate=18 June 2009}}</ref> This meant that Messi was the face and on the front cover of Pro Evolution Soccer from 2009 to 2011. However in November 2011, Messi was confirmed as the new face of PES's rival football series ''[[FIFA (video game series)|FIFA]]'' with his debut as a cover star of the series coming in 2012's ''[[FIFA Street (2012 video game)|FIFA Street]]''. Messi was also chosen to be on the cover of ''[[FIFA 13]]'', ''[[FIFA 14]]'', ''[[FIFA 15]]'' and ''[[FIFA 16]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2417325/Gareth-Bale-Lionel-Messi-FIFA-14-cover.html|title=Bale and Messi take centre stage on FIFA 14 front cover|date=11 September 2013|work=Daily Mail|accessdate=19 September 2013|location=London|first=John|last=Drayton}}</ref> |
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Messi is sponsored by the German sportswear company [[Adidas]] and features in their television advertisements.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/video/2009/may/27/zidane-messi-adidas-ad|title=Watch Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi in Adidas ad|work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=27 May 2009 |accessdate=16 August 2009 }}</ref> In June 2010, Messi also signed a three–year contract with [[Herbalife]] which further supports the Leo Messi Foundation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/herbalife-becomes-new-sponsor-of-fc-barcelona-2010-06-02?reflink=MW_news_stmp|title=Herbalife Becomes New Sponsor |date=2 June 2010|accessdate=7 June 2010}}</ref> |
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Messi was named twice in the [[Time 100]], [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]]'s annual list of the most influential people in the world, in 2011<ref>{{cite news |url=http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066498,00.html |title=The 2011 Time 100 |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=21 April 2011 |first=Thierry |last=Henry |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> and in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2112092,00.html|title=Lionel Messi among Time's 100 most influential people |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=19 April 2012}}</ref> |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Messi starring at world cup trophy 2014.jpg|thumb|left|Messi facing the FIFA World Cup Trophy: 2014's best sports image in the [[World Press Photo of the Year]]]] --> |
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Within a few hours of its launch in April 2011, Messi's Facebook page had more than six million followers,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/print_news.php?nid=180886 |title=Messi opens Facebook |agency=AFP |newspaper=The Daily Star |location=Bangladesh |date=8 April 2011 |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> and in 2013, Messi became the second sportsperson, after Cristiano Ronaldo, to amass over 50 million followers.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=USRTR2HJ2Q "Most Facebook Fans."]. Reuters. Retrieved 21 June 2014</ref> |
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Messi ranked second behind [[Neymar]] in ''SportsPro'' magazine's 2013 list of the world's most marketable athletes.<ref name="SportsPro">{{cite news |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/press_releases/neymar_retains_position_as_worlds_most_marketable_athlete/ |title=Neymar retains position as World’s Most Marketable Athlete |work=SportsPro |date=13 May 2013 |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> Japanese jeweller Ginza Takana used a cast of Messi's left foot to create a solid gold replica, weighing {{convert|25|kg}}, which went on sale in Japan in March 2013 to raise funds for victims of the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]]. It was valued at $5.25 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/06/sport/football/football-leo-messi-golden-foot/ |title=Messi's left foot – yours for $5.25 million |publisher=CNN |date=6 March 2013 |accessdate=14 May 2014}}</ref> |
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In 2014, Messi was the subject of a documentary by filmmaker [[Álex de la Iglesia]], titled ''[[Messi (film)|Messi]]'', which premiered at the [[Venice Film Festival]] in September.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hopewell |first=John |url=http://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/film-factory-takes-alex-de-la-iglesias-messi-1201273493/ |title=Film Factory Takes Alex de la Iglesia’s ‘Messi’ |date=1 August 2014 |accessdate=9 December 2014 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Macnab |first=geoffrey |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/how-do-you-portray-the-magic-of-lionel-messi--the-worlds-greatest-footballer--in-a-movie-9739141.html |title=Lionel Messi movie: How do you accurately portray the magic of the world's greatest footballer? |date=17 September 2014 |accessdate=9 December 2014 |work=The Independent}}</ref> On 12 February 2015, a photograph of Messi facing the World Cup Trophy during the final at [[Maracanã Stadium]] in which Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany, was voted 2014's best sports image in the [[World Press Photo of the Year]], titled "The Final Game".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2950891/Desperate-migrants-crammed-aboard-boats-doomed-victims-Ebola-terrified-circus-animals-fearful-beating-world-s-best-news-images-year-revealed.html|title=The world’s best news images of the year revealed|publisher=DailyMail.com|date=12 February 2015}}</ref> |
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==Career statistics== |
|||
===Club=== |
|||
{{updated|match played 6 June 2015.}} |
|||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
|||
|- |
|||
! rowspan="2" | Club |
|||
! rowspan="2" | Season |
|||
! colspan="3" | League |
|||
! colspan="2" | [[Copa del Rey]] |
|||
! colspan="2" | [[UEFA#Club|Europe]] |
|||
! colspan="2" | Other |
|||
! colspan="2" | Total |
|||
|- |
|||
! Division |
|||
! Apps |
|||
! Goals |
|||
! Apps |
|||
! Goals |
|||
! Apps |
|||
! Goals |
|||
! Apps |
|||
! Goals |
|||
! Apps |
|||
! Goals |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[FC Barcelona C|Barcelona C]] |
|||
| [[2003–04 Tercera División#Grupo V|2003–04]]<ref name="Lionel Messi Match History Statistics"/> |
|||
| [[Tercera División]] |
|||
| 10 |
|||
| 5 |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| 10 |
|||
| 5 |
|||
|- |
|||
| rowspan="3" | [[FC Barcelona B|Barcelona B]] |
|||
| [[2003–04 Segunda División B#Group III|2003–04]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j1753.html?temp=2003-04|title=Messi: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini: 2003–04|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref> |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[Segunda División B]] |
|||
| 5 |
|||
| 0 |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| 5 |
|||
| 0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2004–05 Segunda División B#Group III|2004–05]]<ref name="2004-05">{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j1753.html?temp=2004-05|title=Messi: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini: 2004–05|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref> |
|||
| 17 |
|||
| 6 |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| 17 |
|||
| 6 |
|||
|- |
|||
! colspan="2" | Total |
|||
! 32 |
|||
! 11 |
|||
! colspan="2" | — |
|||
! colspan="2" | — |
|||
! colspan="2" | — |
|||
! 32 |
|||
! 11 |
|||
|- |
|||
| rowspan="12" | [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] |
|||
| [[2004–05 FC Barcelona season|2004–05]]<ref name="2004-05"/> |
|||
| rowspan="11" | [[La Liga]] |
|||
| 7 |
|||
| 1 |
|||
| 1 |
|||
| 0 |
|||
| 1<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL">Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Champions League]]</ref> |
|||
| 0 |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| 9 |
|||
| 1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2005–06 FC Barcelona season|2005–06]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j1753.html?temp=2005-06|title=Messi: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini: 2005–06|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref> |
|||
| 17 |
|||
| 6 |
|||
| 2 |
|||
| 1 |
|||
| 6<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL" /> |
|||
| 1 |
|||
| 0 |
|||
| 0 |
|||
| 25 |
|||
| 8 |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2006–07 FC Barcelona season|2006–07]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j1753.html?temp=2006-07|title=Messi: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini: 2006–07|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref> |
|||
| 26 |
|||
| 14 |
|||
| 2 |
|||
| 2 |
|||
| 6<ref group="lower-alpha" >One appearance in [[2006 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]], five appearances and one goal in [[2006–07 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]]</ref> |
|||
| 1 |
|||
| 2<ref group="lower-alpha" name="SDE" >Appearances in [[Supercopa de España]]</ref> |
|||
| 0 |
|||
| 36 |
|||
| 17 |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2007–08 FC Barcelona season|2007–08]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j1753.html?temp=2007-08|title=Messi: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini: 2007–08|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref> |
|||
| 28 |
|||
| 10 |
|||
| 3 |
|||
| 0 |
|||
| 9<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL" /> |
|||
| 6 |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| 40 |
|||
| 16 |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2008–09 FC Barcelona season|2008–09]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j1753.html?temp=2008-09|title=Messi: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini: 2008–09|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref> |
|||
| 31 |
|||
| 23 |
|||
| 8 |
|||
| 6 |
|||
| 12<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL" /> |
|||
| 9 |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
| 51 |
|||
| 38 |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2009–10 FC Barcelona season|2009–10]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j1753.html?temp=2009-10|title=Messi: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini: 2009–10|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref> |
|||
| 35 |
|||
| 34 |
|||
| 3 |
|||
| 1 |
|||
| 12<ref group="lower-alpha" >One appearance in [[2009 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]], 11 appearances and eight goals in [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]]</ref> |
|||
| 8 |
|||
| 3<ref group="lower-alpha" >One appearance and two goals in [[2009 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]], two appearances and two goals in [[2009 FIFA Club World Cup|FIFA Club World Cup]]</ref> |
|||
| 4 |
|||
| 53 |
|||
| 47 |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2010–11 FC Barcelona season|2010–11]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j1753.html?temp=2010-11|title=Messi: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini: 2010–11|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref> |
|||
| 33 |
|||
| 31 |
|||
| 7 |
|||
| 7 |
|||
| 13<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL" /> |
|||
| 12 |
|||
| 2<ref group="lower-alpha" name="SDE" /> |
|||
| 3 |
|||
| 55 |
|||
| 53 |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2011–12 FC Barcelona season|2011–12]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j1753.html?temp=2011-12|title=Messi: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini: 2011–12|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref> |
|||
| 37 |
|||
| 50 |
|||
| 7 |
|||
| 3 |
|||
| 12<ref group="lower-alpha" >One appearance and one goal in [[2011 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]], 11 appearances and 14 goals in [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]]</ref> |
|||
| 15 |
|||
| 4<ref group="lower-alpha" >Two appearances and three goals in [[2011 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]], two appearances and two goals in [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup|FIFA Club World Cup]]</ref> |
|||
| 5 |
|||
| 60 |
|||
| 73 |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2012–13 FC Barcelona season|2012–13]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j1753.html?temp=2012-13|title=Messi: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini: 2012–13|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref> |
|||
| 32 |
|||
| 46 |
|||
| 5 |
|||
| 4 |
|||
| 11<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL" /> |
|||
| 8 |
|||
| 2<ref group="lower-alpha" name="SDE" /> |
|||
| 2 |
|||
| 50 |
|||
| 60 |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2013–14 FC Barcelona season|2013–14]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j1753.html?temp=2013-14|title=Messi: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini: 2013–14|publisher=BDFutbol|accessdate=27 August 2014}}</ref> |
|||
| 31 |
|||
| 28 |
|||
| 6 |
|||
| 5 |
|||
| 7<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL" /> |
|||
| 8 |
|||
| 2<ref group="lower-alpha" name="SDE" /> |
|||
| 0 |
|||
| 46 |
|||
| 41 |
|||
|- |
|||
| [[2014–15 FC Barcelona season|2014–15]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.soccerway.com/players/lionel-andres-messi/119/|title=L. Messi|publisher=Soccerway|accessdate=28 December 2013}}</ref> |
|||
|38 |
|||
|43 |
|||
| 6 |
|||
| 5 |
|||
| 13<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL" /> |
|||
| 10 |
|||
| colspan="2" | — |
|||
|57 |
|||
| 58 |
|||
|- |
|||
! colspan="2" | Total |
|||
!315 |
|||
!286 |
|||
! 50 |
|||
! 34 |
|||
!102 |
|||
! 78 |
|||
! 15 |
|||
! 14 |
|||
!482 |
|||
!412 |
|||
|- |
|||
! colspan="3" | Career total |
|||
!347 |
|||
!297 |
|||
! 50 |
|||
! 34 |
|||
!102 |
|||
! 78 |
|||
! 15 |
|||
! 14 |
|||
!514 |
|||
!423 |
|||
|} |
|||
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}} |
|||
===International=== |
|||
[[File:Lionel Messi – Portugal vs. Argentina, 9th February 2011.jpg|thumb|Messi playing against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] in Geneva, Switzerland, on 9 February 2011]] |
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{{updated|match played 27 June 2015}}<ref name="nationalfootball"/><ref name="sub20amistosos"/><ref name="rsssf">{{cite web |url=http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/messi-intlg.html |title=Lionel Andrés Messi – Goals in International Matches |publisher=RSSSF |accessdate=2 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel Messi: A Career in Numbers|url=http://www.givemefootball.com/champions-league/lionel-messi-career-in-numbers|accessdate=24 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lionel Messi: Career Statistics|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/45843/lionel-messi|accessdate=24 May 2012}}</ref> |
|||
====International appearances==== |
|||
<!-- update if game for Argentina --> |
|||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
|||
|+ International statistics |
|||
|- |
|||
! width="80" | Team |
|||
! width="70" | Year |
|||
! width="45" | Apps |
|||
! width="45" | Goals |
|||
|- |
|||
| rowspan="11" | [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] |
|||
| 2005 |
|||
| 5 |
|||
| 0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2006 |
|||
| 7 |
|||
| 2 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2007 |
|||
| 14 |
|||
| 6 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2008 |
|||
| 8 |
|||
| 2 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2009 |
|||
| 10 |
|||
| 3 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2010 |
|||
| 10 |
|||
| 2 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2011 |
|||
| 13 |
|||
| 4 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2012 |
|||
| 9 |
|||
| 12 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2013 |
|||
| 7 |
|||
| 6 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2014 |
|||
| 13 |
|||
| 8 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2015 |
|||
| 4 |
|||
| 1 |
|||
|- |
|||
! colspan="2" | Total |
|||
! 101 |
|||
! 46 |
|||
|} |
|||
====International goals==== |
|||
:''Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first.''<!-- update if goal for Argentina --> |
|||
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
|||
|- |
|||
! Goal |
|||
! Date |
|||
! Venue |
|||
! Opponent |
|||
! Score |
|||
! Result |
|||
! Competition |
|||
|- |
|||
| 1 |
|||
| 1 March 2006 |
|||
| [[St. Jakob-Park]], [[Basel]], [[Switzerland]] |
|||
| {{fb|CRO}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–1 |
|||
| align="center" | 2–3 |
|||
| [[Exhibition game|Friendly]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 2 |
|||
| 16 June 2006 |
|||
| [[Veltins-Arena|WM-Stadion Gelsenkirchen]], [[Gelsenkirchen]], [[Germany]] |
|||
| {{fb|SCG}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''6'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 6–0 |
|||
| [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 3 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | 5 June 2007 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[Camp Nou]], [[Barcelona]], [[Spain]] |
|||
| rowspan="2" | {{fb|ALG}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–2 |
|||
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 4–3 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 4 |
|||
| align="center" | '''4'''–2 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 5 |
|||
| 8 July 2007 |
|||
| [[Estadio Metropolitano de Fútbol de Lara|Metropolitano de Fútbol de Lara]], [[Barquisimeto]], [[Venezuela]] |
|||
| {{fb|PER}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 4–0 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[2007 Copa América]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 6 |
|||
| 11 July 2007 |
|||
| [[Polideportivo Cachamay]], [[Puerto Ordaz]], [[Venezuela]] |
|||
| {{fb|MEX}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 3–0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 7 |
|||
| 16 October 2007 |
|||
| [[Estadio José Pachencho Romero|José Pachencho Romero]], [[Maracaibo]], [[Venezuela]] |
|||
| {{fb|VEN}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 2–0 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 8 |
|||
| 20 November 2007 |
|||
| [[Estadio El Campín]], [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]] |
|||
| {{fb|COL}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 1–2 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 9 |
|||
| 4 June 2008 |
|||
| [[Qualcomm Stadium]], [[San Diego]], [[United States]] |
|||
| {{fb|MEX}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 4–1 |
|||
| [[Exhibition game|Friendly]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 10 |
|||
| 11 October 2008 |
|||
| [[Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti|Estadio Monumental]], [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] |
|||
| {{fb|URU}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 2–1 |
|||
| [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 11 |
|||
| 11 February 2009 |
|||
| [[Stade Vélodrome]], [[Marseille]], [[France]] |
|||
| {{fb|FRA}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 2–0 |
|||
| [[Exhibition game|Friendly]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 12 |
|||
| 28 March 2009 |
|||
| [[Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti|Estadio Monumental]], [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] |
|||
| {{fb|VEN}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 4–0 |
|||
| [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 13 |
|||
| 14 November 2009 |
|||
| [[Vicente Calderón Stadium]], [[Madrid]], [[Spain]] |
|||
| {{fb|ESP}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–1 |
|||
| align="center" | 1–2 |
|||
| rowspan="5" | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 14 |
|||
| 7 September 2010 |
|||
| [[Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti|Estadio Monumental]], [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] |
|||
| {{fb|ESP}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 4–1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 15 |
|||
| 17 November 2010 |
|||
| [[Khalifa International Stadium]], [[Doha]], [[Qatar]] |
|||
| {{fb|BRA}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 1–0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 16 |
|||
| 9 February 2011 |
|||
| [[Stade de Genève]], [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]] |
|||
| {{fb|POR}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–1 |
|||
| align="center" | 2–1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 17 |
|||
| 20 June 2011 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti|Estadio Monumental]], [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] |
|||
| {{fb|ALB}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 4–0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 18 |
|||
| 7 October 2011 |
|||
| {{fb|CHI}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 4–1 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 19 |
|||
| 15 November 2011 |
|||
| [[Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez]], [[Barranquilla]], [[Colombia]] |
|||
| {{fb|COL}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–1 |
|||
| align="center" | 2–1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 20 |
|||
| rowspan="3" | 29 February 2012 |
|||
| rowspan="3" | [[Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf|Stade de Suisse Wankdorf]], [[Bern]], [[Switzerland]] |
|||
| rowspan="3" | {{fb|SUI}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| rowspan="3" align="center" | 3–1 |
|||
| rowspan="3" | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 21 |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 22 |
|||
| align="center" | '''3'''–1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 23 |
|||
| 2 June 2012 |
|||
| [[Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti|Estadio Monumental]], [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] |
|||
| {{fb|ECU}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''3'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 4–0 |
|||
| [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 24 |
|||
| rowspan="3" | 9 June 2012 |
|||
| rowspan="3" | [[MetLife Stadium]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey|East Rutherford]], [[United States]] |
|||
| rowspan="3" | {{fb|BRA}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–1 |
|||
| rowspan="3" align="center" | 4–3 |
|||
| rowspan="4" | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 25 |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 26 |
|||
| align="center" | '''4'''–3 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 27 |
|||
| 15 August 2012 |
|||
| [[Commerzbank-Arena]], [[Frankfurt]], [[Germany]] |
|||
| {{fb|GER}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 3–1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 28 |
|||
| 7 September 2012 |
|||
| [[Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes]], [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]], [[Argentina]] |
|||
| {{fb|PAR}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''3'''–1 |
|||
| align="center" | 3–1 |
|||
| rowspan="5" | [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 29 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | 12 October 2012 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[Estadio Malvinas Argentinas]], [[Mendoza, Argentina|Mendoza]], [[Argentina]] |
|||
| rowspan="2" | {{fb|URU}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 3–0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 30 |
|||
| align="center" | '''3'''–0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 31 |
|||
| 16 October 2012 |
|||
| [[Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos|Estadio Nacional]], [[Santiago]], [[Chile]] |
|||
| {{fb|CHI}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 2–1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 32 |
|||
| 22 March 2013 |
|||
| [[Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti|Estadio Monumental]], [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] |
|||
| {{fb|VEN}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 3–0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 33 |
|||
| rowspan="3" | 14 June 2013 |
|||
| rowspan="3" | [[Estadio Mateo Flores]], [[Guatemala City]], [[Guatemala]] |
|||
| rowspan="3" | {{fb|GUA}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| rowspan="3" align="center" | 4–0 |
|||
| rowspan="3" | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 34 |
|||
| align="center" | '''3'''–0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 35 |
|||
| align="center" | '''4'''–0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 36 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | 10 September 2013 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[Estadio Defensores del Chaco]], [[Asunción]], [[Paraguay]] |
|||
| rowspan="2" | {{fb|PAR}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 5–2 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 37 |
|||
| align="center" | '''4'''–1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 38 |
|||
| 7 June 2014 |
|||
| [[Estadio Ciudad de La Plata]], [[La Plata]], [[Argentina]] |
|||
| {{fb|SVN}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 2–0 |
|||
| [[Exhibition game|Friendly]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 39 |
|||
| 15 June 2014 |
|||
| [[Estádio do Maracanã]], [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]] |
|||
| {{fb|BIH}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 2–1 |
|||
| rowspan="4" | [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 40 |
|||
| 21 June 2014 |
|||
| [[Mineirão]], [[Belo Horizonte]], [[Brazil]] |
|||
| {{fb|IRN}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 1–0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 41 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | 25 June 2014 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[Estádio Beira-Rio]], [[Porto Alegre]], [[Brazil]] |
|||
| rowspan="2" | {{fb|NGA}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''1'''–0 |
|||
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 3–2 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 42 |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 43 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | 14 October 2014 |
|||
| rowspan="2" | [[Hong Kong Stadium]], [[So Kon Po]], [[Hong Kong]] |
|||
| rowspan="2" | {{fb|HKG}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''5'''–0 |
|||
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 7–0 |
|||
| rowspan="3" | [[Exhibition game|Friendly]] |
|||
|- |
|||
| 44 |
|||
| align="center" | '''7'''–0 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 45 |
|||
| 12 November 2014 |
|||
| [[Boleyn Ground]], [[London]], [[England]] |
|||
| {{fb|CRO}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–1 |
|||
| align="center" | 2–1 |
|||
|- |
|||
| 46 |
|||
| 13 June 2015 |
|||
| [[Estadio La Portada]], [[La Serena, Chile|La Serena]], [[Chile]] |
|||
| {{fb|PAR}} |
|||
| align="center" | '''2'''–0 |
|||
| align="center" | 2–2 |
|||
| [[2015 Copa América]] |
|||
|} |
|||
==Honours== |
|||
===Club=== |
|||
;Barcelona<ref name="Achievements"/> |
|||
*[[La Liga]]: [[2004–05 La Liga|2004–05]], [[2005–06 La Liga|2005–06]], [[2008–09 La Liga|2008–09]], [[2009–10 La Liga|2009–10]], [[2010–11 La Liga|2010–11]], [[2012–13 La Liga|2012–13]], [[2014–15 La Liga|2014–15]] |
|||
*[[Copa del Rey]]: [[2008–09 Copa del Rey|2008–09]], [[2011–12 Copa del Rey|2011–12]], [[2014–15 Copa del Rey|2014–15]] |
|||
*[[Supercopa de España]]: [[2005 Supercopa de España|2005]], [[2006 Supercopa de España|2006]], [[2009 Supercopa de España|2009]], [[2010 Supercopa de España|2010]], [[2011 Supercopa de España|2011]], [[2013 Supercopa de España|2013]] |
|||
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2005–06 UEFA Champions League|2005–06]], [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|2008–09]], [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League|2010–11]], [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League|2014–15]] |
|||
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[2009 UEFA Super Cup|2009]], [[2011 UEFA Super Cup|2011]] |
|||
*[[FIFA Club World Cup]]: [[2009 FIFA Club World Cup|2009]], [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup|2011]] |
|||
===International=== |
|||
;Argentina<ref name="Achievements">[http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/staff/players/messi "Lionel Messi Achievements"]. FC Barcelona.com. Retrieved 23 December 2014</ref> |
|||
*[[Summer Olympic Games|Olympic Gold Medal]]: [[Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2008]] |
|||
*[[FIFA World Youth Championship]]: [[2005 FIFA World Youth Championship|2005]] |
|||
===Individual=== |
|||
;Personal<ref name="Achievements"/> |
|||
*[[FIFA Ballon d'Or]]: [[2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or|2010]], [[2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or|2011]], [[2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or|2012]] |
|||
*[[Ballon d'Or]]: [[Ballon d'Or 2009|2009]] |
|||
*[[FIFA World Player of the Year]]: [[2009 FIFA World Player of the Year|2009]] |
|||
*[[World Soccer Awards#World Player of the Year|World Soccer Player of the Year]]: 2009, 2011, 2012 |
|||
*[[World Soccer Awards#Greatest XI of all time|World Soccer Greatest XI of All Time]]: 2013 |
|||
*[[Onze d'Or]]: 2009, 2011, 2012 |
|||
*[[European Golden Shoe]]: 2010, 2012, 2013 |
|||
*[[UEFA Best Player in Europe Award]]: [[UEFA Best Player in Europe Award#2010–11|2011]] |
|||
*[[UEFA Club Footballer of the Year]]: [[UEFA Club Footballer of the Year#2008–09: Lionel Messi|2009]] |
|||
*[[UEFA Club Football Awards|UEFA Champions League Forward of the Year]]: [[UEFA Champions League Best Forward|2009]] |
|||
*[[List of UEFA Champions League top scorers|UEFA Champions League Top Goalscorer]]: [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League#Top goalscorers|2009]], [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League#Top goalscorers|2010]], [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League#Top goalscorers|2011]], [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League#Top goalscorers|2012]], [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League#Top goalscorers|2015]] |
|||
* [[UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League Team of the Season]]: [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League#Squad of the season|2014–15]]<ref>{{cite web |title=UEFA Champions League squad of the season|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2255077.html#uefa+champions+league+squad+season |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=9 June 2015 |accessdate=9 June 2015 }}</ref> |
|||
*[[UEFA Team of the Year]]: [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2008|2008]], [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2009|2009]], [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2010|2010]], [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2011|2011]], [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2012|2012]], [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2014|2014]] |
|||
*[[2011 UEFA Champions League Final]]: Man of the Match |
|||
*[[FIFA Club World Cup|FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball]]: [[2009 FIFA Club World Cup#Awards|2009]], [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup#Awards|2011]] |
|||
*[[L'Équipe Champion of Champions]]: 2011 |
|||
*[[La Gazzetta dello Sport|''La Gazzetta dello Sport'' Sportsman of the Year]]: 2011 |
|||
*[[FIFA World Youth Championship#Awards|FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Ball]]: [[2005 FIFA World Youth Championship|2005]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20worldcup/netherlands2005/awards/index.html|title=AWARDS|accessdate=2 February 2015|publisher=FIFA.com}}</ref> |
|||
*[[FIFA World Youth Championship#Golden Shoe|FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Shoe]]: [[2005 FIFA World Youth Championship|2005]] |
|||
*[[LFP Awards|LFP Best Player]]: [[LFP Awards|2009]], [[LFP Awards|2010]], [[LFP Awards|2011]], [[LFP Awards|2012]], [[LFP Awards|2013]] |
|||
*[[Don Balón Award|La Liga Foreign Player of the Year]]: [[Don Balón Award|2007]], [[Don Balón Award|2009]], [[Don Balón Award|2010]] |
|||
*[[Pichichi Trophy]]: 2010, 2012, 2013 |
|||
*[[LFP Awards|LFP Best Forward]]: [[LFP Awards|2009]], [[LFP Awards|2010]], [[LFP Awards|2011]], [[LFP Awards|2012]], [[LFP Awards|2013]] |
|||
*[[Trofeo EFE|La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year]]: [[Trofeo EFE|2007]], [[Trofeo EFE|2009]], [[Trofeo EFE|2010]], [[Trofeo EFE|2011]], [[Trofeo EFE|2012]] |
|||
*[[FIFPro|FIFPro World Young Player of the Year]]: [[FIFPro|2006]], [[FIFPro|2007]], [[FIFPro|2008]] |
|||
*[[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer Young Player of the Year]]: [[World Soccer Awards#Young Player of the Year|2006]], [[World Soccer Awards#Young Player of the Year|2007]], [[World Soccer Awards#Young Player of the Year|2008]] |
|||
*[[Bravo Award]]: [[Bravo Award|2007]] |
|||
*[[Golden Boy (award)|Golden Boy]]: [[European Golden Boy|2005]] |
|||
*[[Marca Leyenda|Marca Legend Award]]: [[Marca Leyenda#List of winners|2009]] |
|||
*[[Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano]]: [[2008–09 La Liga|2008–09]], [[2009–10 La Liga|2009–10]], [[2013–14 La Liga|2010–11]] |
|||
*[[Best International Athlete ESPY Award|ESPY Awards Best International Athlete]]: [[2012 ESPY Awards|2012]] |
|||
*[[El País (Uruguay)|El País]] King of European Soccer: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012<ref>{{cite web |title=Leo Messi y Vicente Del Bosque elegidos como 'Reyes de Europa' |url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2012/12/30/primera/1356877647_256448.html |publisher=Futbol.as.com |date=30 December 2012 |accessdate=31 December 2012 }}</ref> |
|||
*[[IFFHS]] World's Top Goal Scorer: 2011, 2012<ref>{{cite web|title=IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer 2011|url=http://www.iffhs.de/?388d85ff0e003c4f05e91a55285fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb8a711|accessdate=31 August 2012}}</ref> |
|||
*[[IFFHS]] World's best Top Division Goal Scorer: 2012<ref>{{cite web|title=IFFHS World's best Top Division Goal Scorer 2012|url=http://www.iffhs.de/?d85f94e8378cf047b0f02f08f07785fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb88388213|accessdate=31 December 2012}}</ref> |
|||
*[[FIFPro|FIFA/FIFPro World XI]]: [[FIFPro World XI|2007]], [[FIFPro World XI|2008]], [[FIFPro World XI|2009]], [[2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or#FIFA/FIFPro World XI|2010]], [[2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or#FIFA/FIFPro World XI|2011]], [[2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or#FIFA/FIFPro World XI|2012]], [[2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or#FIFA/FIFPro World XI|2013]], [[2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or#FIFA/FIFPro World XI|2014]] |
|||
*[[European Sports Magazines#ESM Team of the Year|ESM Team of the Year]]: [[European Sports Magazines#2005–06|2006]], [[European Sports Magazines#2007–08|2008]], [[European Sports Magazines#2008–09|2009]], [[European Sports Magazines#2009–10|2010]], [[European Sports Magazines#2010–11|2011]], [[European Sports Magazines#2011–12|2012]], [[European Sports Magazines#2012–13|2013]] |
|||
*[[Copa América|Copa América Young Player of the Tournament]]: [[2007 Copa América|2007]] |
|||
*[[Copa América|Copa América Top Assist Provider]]: [[2011 Copa América|2011]] |
|||
*[[Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey Top Goalscorer]]: [[2010–11 Copa del Rey|2010–11]], [[2013–14 Copa del Rey|2013–14]] |
|||
*[[Olimpia Award|Argentine Sportsperson of the Year Award]]: [[Olimpia Award#Olimpia de Oro winners|2011]] |
|||
*[[Footballer of the Year of Argentina|Olimpia de Plata]]: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
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*[[Golden Ball (FIFA)|FIFA World Cup Golden Ball]]: [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]<ref>{{cite web|title=adidas Golden Ball|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=5/news=adidas-golden-ball-2336453.html|accessdate=16 February 2015}}</ref> |
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*[[2014 FIFA World Cup awards#Dream Team|FIFA World Cup Dream Team]]: [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/games/dream-team/index.html | title = The Dream Team | publisher = FIFA.com | accessdate = 17 August 2014}}</ref> |
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*[[La Liga]] Team of the Season: [[2014–15 La Liga|2014–15]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The 2014/15 Liga BBVA Ideal XI |url=http://www.laliga.es/en/news/the-201415-liga-bbva-ideal-xi |publisher=LFP |date=15 June 2015 |accessdate=17 June 2015}}</ref> |
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===Records=== |
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{{updated|24 March 2015}} |
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<!-- Please provide references for the records. --> |
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====World==== |
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* Most [[FIFA Ballon d'Or]] awards: 4<ref name="Ballon_Dor_2012">{{cite news|title=Messi, Wambach, del Bosque and Sundhage triumph at FIFA Ballon d’Or 2012|url=http://www.fifa.com/ballondor/media/newsid=1981449/index.html|publisher=FIFA.com|accessdate=7 January 2013}}</ref> |
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* [[Guinness World Records]] title for the most goals in a year (2012): 91 goals (96 goals including club friendlies)<ref>{{cite web|title=Barcelona star Lionel Messi sets new goal-scoring record|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2012/12/barcelona-star-lionel-messi-sets-new-goalscoring-record-46285/|publisher=Guinness World Records|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="FCBarcelona.com">{{cite news|title=Leo Messi's world and european records with F.C. Barcelona |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/leo-messi-s-world-and-european-records-with-fc-barcelona|publisher=FCBarcelona.com|date=22 November 2014}}</ref> |
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* Most international goals in a calendar year (2012): 25 (shared with [[Vivian Woodward]] and [[Cristiano Ronaldo]])<ref name="Barca Records"/> |
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* Youngest two-time/three-time/four-time [[Ballon d'Or]] winner: 23/24/25 years<ref>{{cite news|title=14 facts about the FIFA Ballon d'Or|url=http://m.fifa.com/ballon-dor/news/y=2013/m=10/news=14-facts-about-the-fifa-ballon-d-or-2195659.html|publisher=FIFA.com|date=22 September 2014}}</ref> |
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* Most [[List of FIFA Club World Cup awards#Golden Ball|FIFA Club World Cup Golden Balls]]: 2 ([[2009 FIFA Club World Cup|2009]],<ref>{{cite news|title=FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009: Awards|url=http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/clubworldcup/uae2009/awards/index.html|publisher=FIFA.com}}</ref> [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup|2011]]<ref>{{cite news|title=FIFA Club World Cup JAPAN 2011: Awards|url=http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/clubworldcup/japan2011/awards/index.html|publisher=FIFA.com}}</ref>) <ref>{{cite news|title=Messi, el astro rey|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/messi-astro-rey-1279170|publisher=Sport.es|date=20 December 2011}}</ref> |
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* Most appearances in the top 3 candidates for the [[Ballon d'Or]]: 8 times (2007-2014)<ref>{{cite news|title=Bartomeu hails Messi's eight-year Ballon d'Or record|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3277/la-liga/2014/12/01/6691481/bartomeu-hails-messis-eight-year-ballon-dor-record|publisher=Goal.com|date=1 December 2014}}</ref> |
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* Most appearances in the [[FIFPro|FIFPro World XI]]: 8 times (2007-2014) (shared with [[Cristiano Ronaldo]])<ref>{{cite news|title=The Ballon d’Or trio's remarkable records|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/3869/fifa-ballon-dor/2015/01/12/7882562/ronaldos-54-goals-messis-21-assists-neuers-28-clean-sheets|publisher=Goal.com|date=12 January 2015}}</ref> |
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====Europe==== |
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* Most goals scored in a season (club): 73 goals<ref name=goals_73>{{cite news|title=Messi ends season with 82 goals|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/messi-ends-season-with-82-goals|accessdate=9 December 2012|publisher=FCBarcelona.com}}</ref> |
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* Most goals scored in a year (club): 79 goals<ref>{{cite news|title=Messi ends 2012 with 91 goals|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/season/2012-2013/messi-ends-2012-with-91-goals|accessdate=2 September 2013|publisher=FCBarcelona.com}}</ref> |
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* Most UEFA Champions League [[List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League top scorers|top scorer]] awards: [[List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League top scorers#European Cup and UEFA Champions League top scorers by seasons|5]]<ref name=CL_Top_Scorer>{{cite news|title=Record-breaking Messi takes top scorer honour|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1795767.html|publisher=UEFA.com|accessdate=2 September 2013}}</ref> |
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* Most consecutive [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] top scorer awards: [[European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics#Top scorer awards|4]]<ref name=CL_Top_Scorer /> |
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* Most [[List of UEFA Champions League hat-tricks|hat-tricks]] in UEFA Champions League: [[List of UEFA Champions League hat-tricks#Multiple hat-tricks|5]]<ref name=four_hat_tricks /> |
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* Highest scorer in a [[UEFA Champions League]] game - shared with [[Luiz Adriano]]: [[European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics#Five goals in a match|5 goals]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Five-goal Messi leaves Leverkusen spellbound|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2012/matches/round=2000264/match=2007677/postmatch/report/index.html|publisher=UEFA.com|accessdate=20 September 2013}}</ref> |
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* Most goals scored in the [[UEFA Champions League]]: [[List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League top scorers|77 goals]] (shared with [[Cristiano Ronaldo]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo breaks Champions League record|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/alltime_goalgetter/champions-league/tore/1/|accessdate=24 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=UEFA Champions League All time leading scorers|url=http://www.statbunker.com/alltimestats/AllTimeLeadingScorers?comp_code=UCL|accessdate=24 May 2015}}</ref> |
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====Argentina==== |
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*Most goals scored in a year (national team): 12 goals (shared with [[Gabriel Batistuta]])<ref>{{cite news|title=Messi finally conjures up his goal-scoring magic for Argentina in 2012|url=http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/11/16/messi-finally-conjures-up-his-goal-scoring-magic-for-argentina-in-2012/|accessdate=9 December 2012|publisher=FoxNews.com|date=16 November 2012}}</ref> |
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* Youngest player that have scored a goal at the [[FIFA World Cup]]: 18 years and 357 days old ([[2006 FIFA World Cup Group C#Argentina vs Serbia and Montenegro|2006 vs Serbia & Montenegro]])<ref>{{cite news|title=Argentina 6-0 Serbia & Montenegro|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853028.stm|publisher=BBC.com|date=16 June 2006}}</ref> |
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* Most goals scored in [[Argentina national football team#Individual Stats|International friendlies]]: 24 |
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* Most goals scored, alongside [[Javier Saviola]], in all [[Argentina national football team#Individual Stats|U-20 International competitions (2004-2005)]]: 11 goals (14 goals including friendlies) |
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* Most goals scored in one [[FIFA World Cup qualification]] ([[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification#Top goalscorers|2014]]): 10<ref>{{cite news|title=Guide to World Cup Group F|url=http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/25157026|publisher=BBC.com|date=23 May 2014}}</ref> |
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====Spain==== |
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* Most goals scored in [[La Liga]] history: [[Spanish football top scorers#All time top scorers in La liga|283 goals]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Messi breaks record as FC Barcelona take down Sevilla by the horns|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/match-archive/2014-2015/league/round-12/fc-barcelona_sevilla-fc|accessdate=22 November 2014|publisher=FCBarcelona.com}}</ref> |
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* Most assists made in [[La Liga]] history<ref name="most la liga assists" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Messi también es leyenda en el ranking histórico de asistencias|trans_title=Messi is also a legend in the historical assist ranking|url=http://www.ligabbva.com/2544_liga-bbva/2958603_messi-tambien-es-leyenda-en-el-ranking-historico-de-asistencias.html|publisher=La Liga BBVA|accessdate=24 May 2015|language=Spanish|date=19 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=In numbers: All Lionel Messi's milestones and records after his hat-trick against Levante|url=https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/in-numbers--all-lionel-messi-s-milestones-and-records-on-a-famous-evening-for-barcelona-202300176.html|publisher=Euro Sport|accessdate=12 May 2015|date=15 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Dermot |last=Corrigan |title=Messi notches assist record; Suarez 'very happy' at Barca, says Luis Enrique |url=http://www.espnfc.us/spanish-primera-division/story/2300728/messi-notches-assist-record |publisher=ESPN FC |date=15 February 2015 |accessdate=12 May 2015 }}</ref> |
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* Most goals scored in [[La Liga]] in a season: [[Football records in Spain#Most goals in a La Liga season .28at least 30 goals.29|50 goals]]<ref>{{cite news|title=50 La Liga goals for Messi|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/50-la-liga-goals-for-messi|accessdate=2 September 2013|publisher=FCBarcelona.com}}</ref> |
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* Most consecutive [[La Liga]] matches scored in: [[Football records in Spain#Individual|21 matches (33 goals)]]<ref name=21_match_streak>{{cite news|title=Messi worry mars Barca's title joy|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/12/sport/football/messi-barcelona-psg-milan-football|publisher=CNN.com|accessdate=2 September 2013|date=13 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="FC Barcelona individual records"/> |
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* Most [[La Liga]] hat-tricks in a season (co-record): [[Football records in Spain#Individual|8 hat-tricks]] (shared with [[Cristiano Ronaldo]])<ref name="breaking records year">{{cite news|title=Lionel Messi's incredible record-breaking year in numbers|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/dec/10/lionel-messi-record-year-numbers|publisher=TheGuardian.com|date=10 December 2012}}</ref> |
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* Youngest player to score 200 [[La Liga]] goals: 25 years<ref>{{cite news|title=Messi youngest to score 200 goals in La Liga|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2013/01/27/roundup-lionel-messi-youngest-to-200-goals-la-liga/1868865/|publisher=USA Today |date=27 January 2013 }}</ref> |
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* Most goals scored in [[El Clasico]]: 21<ref name="Messi El Clasico Records">{{cite web|title=Messi El Classico records|url=http://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/more-sports/magical-messi-uefa-champions-leagues-top-goal-scorer/ss-BBfTrrQ#image=6|publisher=msn.com|accessdate=25 November 2014}}</ref> |
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* Most goals scored in [[Derbi barceloní]] matches: 12 goals<ref name="marca.com"/> |
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* Most [[Hat-trick#Association football|braces]] in [[La Liga]] history: 80<ref>{{cite news|title=Football news in brief: Another record for Messi.|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/25/football-news-in-brief|publisher=TheGuardian.com|date=25 January 2015}}</ref> |
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* Most goals scored in the [[Supercopa de España#Top goalscorers|Supercopa de España]]: 10 goals<ref name="breaking records year" /> |
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* Only top goalscorer and top assists supplier in the same league season: 2011/12 (50 goals and 15 assists)<ref name="FCBarcelona.com" /> |
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* First player to score in every game for half of [[La Liga]] season (2012/13): 30 goals (in 19 consecutive Matches)<ref name="FCBarcelona.com" /> |
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* Highest goalscoring average in a [[La Liga]] Season (2012/2013): 1,44 goals/game (46 goals in 32 matches) |
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* Most Home goals [[Football records in Spain#Individual|in a league season]] (2011/12): 35 goals (in 19 Home matches)<ref name="FCBarcelona.com" /> |
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* Most Away goals [[Football records in Spain#Individual|in a league season]] (2012/13): 24 goals (in 19 Away matches)<ref name="FCBarcelona.com" /> |
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* Most Away matches scored in, [[Football records in Spain#Individual|in a league season]] (2012/13): 15 games<ref name="FCBarcelona.com" /> |
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* [[Football records in Spain#Individual|Teams scored against]] in a season (2012/13): 19 (shared with [[Ronaldo]] and [[Cristiano Ronaldo]])<ref name="Leo Messi's record-breaking run">{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/leo-messi-s-record-breaking-run-continues-becomes-first-player-to-score-against-19-opponents-consecutively |title=Leo Messi's record-breaking run |publisher=fcbarcelona.com |date=30 March 2013 |accessdate=21 May 2015}}</ref> |
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====Barcelona==== |
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* Top goalscorer in Barcelona history: 425<ref name="Barca Records">{{cite web|title=Messi Barca records|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/club/the-honours/detail/card/fc-barcelona-individual-records|publisher=fcbarcelona.com|accessdate=2 June 2014}}</ref> |
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* Top goalscorer in official competitions: 397<ref name="Barca Records"/> |
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* Top goalscorer in La Liga: 275<ref name="Barca Records"/> |
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* Top scorer in international competitions: 80<ref name="Barca Records"/> |
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* Most hat-tricks in Barcelona history: 32<ref name="spanish hat-tricks"/> |
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* Most La Liga hat-tricks overall: 24 <ref name="spanish hat-tricks"/> |
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* Most away goals scored in Barcelona history in [[La Liga]]: 120 goals<ref name=away_goals_record>{{cite news|title=Leo Messi breaks more records at Mestalla|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/leo-messi-breaks-more-records-at-mestalla|accessdate=2 September 2013|publisher=FCBarcelona.com}}</ref><ref name="Most away goals in La Liga">{{cite news|title=F.C. Barcelona's 500th road win in La Liga|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/fc-barcelona-s-500th-road-win-in-la-liga|publisher=FCBarcelona.com|date=8 February 2015}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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{{Portal|Biography|Association football|Argentina}} |
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*[[List of one-club men]] |
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{{Clear}} |
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==Notes== |
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{{Reflist|group=note}} |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|30em}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Commons category}} |
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*{{Official website|http://www.leomessi.com/}} {{ca icon}} {{en icon}} {{es icon}} |
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*[http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/staff/players/messi FC Barcelona profile] |
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*[http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j1753.html BDFutbol profile] |
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*[http://www.lfp.es/en/player/liga-bbva/messi La Liga profile] |
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*{{soccerbase|39850}} |
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*[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=45843&cc=5739 Profile] at ESPN |
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*{{NFT player|pid=12066}} |
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*{{FIFA player|229397}} |
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*{{UEFA player|95803}} |
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{{FC Barcelona squad}} |
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{{Navboxes colour |
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{{Argentina squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}} |
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{{Argentina squad 2007 Copa América}} |
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{{Argentina men's football squad 2008 Summer Olympics}} |
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{{Argentina squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}} |
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{{Argentina squad 2011 Copa América}} |
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{{Argentina squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}} |
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{{Argentina squad 2015 Copa América}} |
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|list1= |
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{{s-start}} |
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{{s-ach}} |
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{{succession box |title=[[FIFPro|FIFPro Young Player of the Year]] |before=[[Wayne Rooney]] |after=''Incumbent'' |years=2006, 2007, 2008 }} |
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{{succession box |title=[[FIFPro#Awards|FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year]] |before=[[Cristiano Ronaldo]] |after=[[Sergio Agüero]] |years=2007, 2008 }} |
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{{succession box |title=[[List of UEFA Champions League top scorers|UEFA Champions League top scorer]] |before=[[Cristiano Ronaldo]] |after=''Incumbent'' |years=[[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|2008–09]], [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League|2009–10]], [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League|2010–11]], [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League|2011–12]] |after=[[Cristiano Ronaldo]]}} |
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{{succession box |title=''[[Olimpia Award|Olimpia de Oro]]'' |before=[[Luciana Aymar]] |after=[[Sergio Martínez (boxer)|Sergio Martínez]] |years=2011 }} |
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{{succession box |title=[[L'Équipe Champion of Champions]] |before=[[Rafael Nadal]] |after=[[Serena Williams]] (female)<br />[[Usain Bolt]] (male) |years=2011 }} |
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{{succession box |title=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport|''Gazzetta dello Sport''<br>Sportsman of the Year]] |before=[[José Mourinho]] |after=[[Usain Bolt]]|years=2011 }} |
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{{succession box |title=[[Best International Athlete ESPY Award]] |before=[[Usain Bolt]] |after=[[Usain Bolt]] |years=2012 }} |
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{{S-end}} |
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{{FIFA World Player of the Year winners}} |
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{{Ballon d'Or recipients}} |
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{{FIFA Ballon d'Or recipients}} |
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{{World Soccer Footballer of the Year}} |
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{{La Liga Foreign Player of the Year}} |
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{{La Liga Forward of the Year}} |
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{{La Liga Best Player of the Year}} |
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{{Trofeo EFE}} |
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{{FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball}} |
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{{FIFA U-20 World Cup awards}} |
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{{Argentine Footballer of the Year}} |
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{{UEFA Club Footballer of the Year}} |
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{{UEFA Best Player in Europe}} |
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{{Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano}} |
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{{Bravo award winners}} |
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{{Golden Boy award winners}} |
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{{La Liga top scorers}} |
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{{Copa del Rey top scorers}} |
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{{European Golden Shoe}} |
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{{UEFA Champions League top scorers}} |
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{{FIFA World Cup Golden Ball}} |
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{{2014 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}} |
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{{ESPY International Athlete}} |
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{{2014–15 La Liga Team of the Year}} |
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}} |
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{{s-start}} |
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{{s-sports}} |
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{{s-bef|before=[[Javier Mascherano]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] captain|years=2011–present}} |
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{{s-inc}} |
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{{S-end}} |
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{{good article}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Messi, Lionel}} |
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[[Category:1987 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]] |
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[[Category:2007 Copa América players]] |
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[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players]] |
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[[Category:2011 Copa América players]] |
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[[Category:2014 FIFA World Cup players]] |
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[[Category:2015 Copa América players]] |
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[[Category:Argentina international footballers]] |
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[[Category:Argentina youth international footballers]] |
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[[Category:Argentine expatriate footballers]] |
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[[Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Spain]] |
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[[Category:Argentine footballers]] |
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[[Category:Argentine people of Italian descent]] |
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[[Category:Argentine Roman Catholics]] |
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[[Category:Association football forwards]] |
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[[Category:European Footballer of the Year winners]] |
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[[Category:Expatriate footballers in Spain]] |
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[[Category:FC Barcelona B players]] |
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[[Category:FC Barcelona C players]] |
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[[Category:FC Barcelona players]] |
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[[Category:Footballers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]] |
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[[Category:La Liga players]] |
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[[Category:Naturalised citizens of Spain]] |
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[[Category:Olympic footballers of Argentina]] |
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[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Argentina]] |
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[[Category:Olympic medalists in football]] |
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[[Category:Sportspeople from Rosario, Santa Fe]] |
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[[Category:Pichichi Trophy winners]] |
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[[Category:Segunda División B players]] |
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[[Category:Tercera División players]] |
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[[Category:UNICEF people]] |
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[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]] |
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[[Category:Argentina under-20 international footballers]] |
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[[Category:People of Marchesan descent]] |
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[[Category:FIFA Century Club]] |
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Revision as of 13:55, 28 June 2015
| fullname = Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini <ref name="Know More">{{cite news |title=Know More about Messsi |url=http://www.sportsarena.club |publisher=SportsAreana |