Lionel Messi | Messi playing for Barcelona | Personal information | Full name | Lionel Andrés Messi[1] | Date of birth | 24 June 1987 (age 24)[1] | Place of birth | Rosario, Argentina[1] | Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | Playing position | Forward | Club information | Current club | Barcelona | Number | 10 | Youth career | 1995–2000 | Newell 's Old Boys | 2000–2003 | Barcelona | Senior career* | Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | 2003–2004 | Barcelona C | 8 | (5) | 2004–2005 | Barcelona B | 22 | (6) | 2004– | Barcelona | 214 | (169) | National team‡ | 2004̣–2005 | Argentina U20 | 18 | (14) | 2008 | Argentina U23 | 5 | (2) | 2005– | Argentina | 70 | (26) | Honours[show] | * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:30, 13 May 2012 (UTC).† Appearances (Goals).‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:30, 9 June 2012 (UTC) |
Lionel Andrés Messi (Spanish pronunciation: [ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesi], born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine footballer who plays for La Liga club FC Barcelona and is the current captain of the Argentina national team, playing mainly as a forward.
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 both theBallon d 'Or[2] and FIFA World Player of the Year, and won the inaugural FIFA Ballon d 'Or in 2010 and 2011.[3] He also won the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. Messi is the fourth football player to win three Ballons d 'Or, after Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Bastenand the second player to win three consecutive Ballons d 'Or, after Michel Platini. His playing style and small stature have drawn comparisons toDiego Maradona, who himself declared Messi as his "successor".[4][5]
Messi has won five La Liga titles and three Champions League titles. In 2012, Messi made UEFA Champions League history
References: * 8 External links |