Cristiano Ronaldo ( Portuguese pronunciation: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos ) , (born 5 February 1985, known professionally as Cristiano Ronaldo) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Al Nasr and the Portugal national football team. He is the captain of the Portugal national football team . He won the FIFA Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards for the first time in 2008. He has won the Ballon d'Or four times. He is the top scorer in Europe's top five leagues, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Euro, and holds the record for most goals scored in a single UEFA Champions League season. He is the first player to win the European Golden Shoe four times. He scored his 500th goal of his career in 2015, taking his total to 895 goals for club and country.
He is considered one of the greatest players in world football. He was named the greatest player in Portuguese history by the Portuguese Football Federation in 2015. Ronaldo played in seven major tournaments for the Portugal national football team, helping the country win its first major international title, UEFA Euro 2016. He is also the most capped player and highest goal scorer for the Portugal national football team. He was named the most famous and highest-paid athlete by ESPN and Forbes in 2016 and 2017 , respectively.
Ronaldo, who started his club career with Sporting CP, has spent his productive time at Manchester United and Real Madrid, winning various awards including the league, Champions League and many other titles, and has also set many records. Similarly, Ronaldo, who won the Euro Cup with the Portuguese national team, has various records in Portuguese, European and world football.
Early life
Ronaldo was born on 5 February 1985 in Santo António, a suburb of Funchal, Madeira, Portugal , the youngest child of Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Dinis Aveiro. Cristiano Ronaldo has a brother, Hugo, and two sisters, Elma and Lilian Katia. The second part of Cristiano Ronaldo's name, Ronaldo, is relatively rare in Portugal. His parents named him after then-US President Ronald Reagan, as Ronald Reagan was his father's favorite actor.
Ronaldo was a good student at school, but he was expelled from school for hitting his teacher with a chair. After becoming a professional player, he spoke about the incident, saying, " He disrespected me ." At the age of 14, he listened to his mother and promised to focus on football.
Club sports life
Sporting CP
Ronaldo memorabilia at the Sporting CP museum
Ronaldo was promoted from the youth team to the first team by Sporting CP's coach at the age of 16, impressed by his dribbling ability. [ 2 ] He became the first player to play for the club's under-16, under-17, under-18, B team and first team in the same season. [ 3 ] On 7 October 2002, he scored two goals in his first match in the Portuguese Premier League, a 3–0 win for his team. [ 4 ] United's players and manager Sir Alex Ferguson were impressed by Ronaldo's skills in a 3–1 defeat to Manchester United in Lisbon in August 2003. This performance was instrumental in securing Ronaldo's transfer to United. [ 5 ] Ferguson described Ronaldo as one of the best young players he had ever seen. [ 6 ] [ 7 ] In April 2013, a decade after Ronaldo left Sporting, the club honored him by making him the club's 100,000th member. [ 8 ]
Manchester United
2003-2006: Development and maturity
Ronaldo signed for Manchester United ahead of the 2003–04 season, becoming the first Portuguese player to play for the club. [ 9 ] He became the most expensive teenager in British football history at the time, signing for £12.24 million. [ 10 ] He requested the number 28 shirt, which he had worn at Sporting, but was given the number 7 shirt, which had been worn by influential players at the club, such as George Best, Eric Cantona, and David Beckham . [ 11 ] This motivated him even more, [ 12 ] and he set his sights on becoming one of the best players in the world within three years. [ 13 ] Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson played a key role in Ronaldo's rise to prominence . Ronaldo has said that Ferguson is "my father in football, the most important and influential person in my life". [ 14 ]
In the past, various players have been called 'the new George Best', but this is the first time I feel like I've been praised for that. [ 15 ] Former Manchester United player George Best on 18-year-old Ronaldo.
Ronaldo made his United debut on 16 August 2003. Ronaldo entered the pitch in the 60th minute of a 4–0 Premier League win over Bolton Wanderers, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. [ 16 ] [ 17 ] Former Manchester United player George Best described Ronaldo's performance in that match as one of the most impressive debuts of his career. Ronaldo scored his first goal for United on 1 November, a free kick, in a 3–0 defeat at Portsmouth. [ 18 ] Ronaldo scored three more goals in the league that season. [ 19 ] [ 20 ] On the final day of the season, he scored a goal against Aston Villa, and received his first red card. [ 21 ] Ronaldo scored his first goal in a 3–0 FA Cup win over Millwall FC, and United won their first trophy of the season. [ 22 ]
Ronaldo playing against Chelsea in the Premier League in 2006
He continued his development, with a fine performance in the 2004–05 season. Although he did not score many goals from the wing, he scored two goals in three games in the 2005–06 season. [ 23 ] On 29 October 2005, he scored United's 1,000th Premier League goal, in a match that United lost. [ 24 ] Midway through the season, he signed a two-year contract extension with the club, extending his stay until 2010. [ 25 ] He scored in the 2005–06 League Cup Final, helping United win their second trophy. [ 26 ]
After United were accused of failing to defend themselves against fellow club Wayne Rooney in the 2006 World Cup , [ 27 ] he requested a transfer to another club, claiming that he had failed to defend himself. [ 28 ] [ 29 ] However, his club refused. [ 30 ] [ 31 ] Despite being booed by United and Rooney's supporters throughout the 2006–07 season, Ronaldo emerged as a standout player. [ 32 ] He broke the 20-goal mark that season and won his first Premier League title. In November, he was given a standing ovation by the Blackburn Rovers FC fans when he was substituted. [ 33 ] He scored two goals in three consecutive games in December. [ 34 ] He was named the Premier League Player of the Month for November and December, becoming only the third player in Premier League history to do so in consecutive months. [ 35 ] [ 36 ]
2007-2009: Success is success
Ronaldo in the 2006-07 season
In the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League, Ronaldo opened his Champions League scoring account with two goals in United's 7–1 win over Roma in the last eight. [ 37 ] [ 38 ] He reached his 50th goal for United in the Manchester derby on 5 May 2007, which saw United win the league title for the first time in four years. [ 39 ] His performances earned him the PFA (Professional Footballers' Association) Player of the Year, PFA Fans' Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of the Year and FWA (Football Writers' Association) Player of the Year awards. [ 40 ] [ 41 ] He became the first player to win all four of these awards simultaneously. [ 42 ] The club increased his salary to £120,000 per week and he agreed to a five-year contract extension. [ 43 ]
In the 2007–08 season, he scored 42 goals, his most in a single season for Manchester United. [ 44 ] He was runner-up in the 2007 Ballon d'Or, which was won by Kaka. [ 45 ] He also finished third in the FIFA World Player of the Year award, behind Kaka and Messi. [ 46 ] On 12 January 2008, he scored his first hat-trick for United, in a 6–0 win over Newcastle United, which lifted the club to the top of the table. [ 47 ] On 19 March, he captained Manchester United for the first time, scoring twice against Bolton. [ 48 ] The second goal against Bolton was Ronaldo's 33rd goal of the season, and Ronaldo, playing as a midfielder, broke the club record of 32 goals set by George Best in the 1967–68 season. [ 49 ] On 11 May, he scored the winning penalty against Wigan to secure United another Premier League title. [ 50 ] He won the Premier League Golden Boot for scoring 31 league goals and became the first winger to win the European Golden Shoe. [ 51 ] [ 52 ]
Ronaldo getting ready to take a free kick
Ronaldo was instrumental in United's UEFA Champions League triumph in the 2007–08 season. [ 53 ] Ronaldo was the top scorer in that edition of the Champions League and was named UEFA Player of the Year. [ 54 ] He also won the PFA Player of the Year and FWA Player of the Year awards for the second consecutive year. [ 55 ]
The 2008–09 season was his final season at United. He scored against Stoke City on 15 November 2008, taking his tally to 100 goals for United. [ 56 ] He also scored against all 19 Premier League opponents in a single season. [ 57 ] Ronaldo was instrumental in United's victory in the 2008 Club World Cup. [ 58 ] He won the Silver Ball in the competition. [ 59 ] [ 60 ] He won the 2008 Ballon d'Or, becoming the first United player to win the award since George Best (1968). [ 61 ] [ 62 ] That same year , he was named FIFA World Player of the Year, the first Premier League player to win the award. [ 63 ] He inspired United to the UEFA Champions League final in the 2008–09 season, where he was defeated by Barcelona, finishing as runners-up. [ 64 ] His 40-yard strike in the second leg against Porto won the FIFA Puskas Award for Goal of the Year. [ 65 ] Ronaldo won nine trophies with United as they won the League Cup and a third consecutive Premier League title. [ 66 ] [ 67 ] Ronaldo scored his final goal for Manchester United on 10 May 2009, a free kick in the Manchester derby. [ 68 ]
Real Madrid
2009-2012: Record transfers and La Liga title
"I have nothing but admiration for Ronaldo. It's no secret that he's the best player in the world. The fear he gives opponents is unimaginable. His stats are incredible: goals, attempts, appearances in the penalty box, headers. He has all the skills. Very impressive."
— United manager Alex Ferguson after Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real Madrid [ 69 ]
Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009 for a then-world record transfer fee of £80 million. [ 70 ] He was welcomed to the club's stadium by an estimated 80,000 fans, breaking the previous record of 75,000 set by Maradona at Napoli 25 years earlier. [ 71 ] He was given the number 9 shirt, as club captain Raúl was wearing the number 7 shirt at the time. [ 72 ]
Ronaldo against Diego Forlan in a match
Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot on his debut for Real Madrid on 29 August 2009, in a 3–2 win for Madrid in the 2009–10 season. [ 73 ] He became the first Real Madrid player to score in his first four games. [74] His first two goals for Madrid in the UEFA Champions League came from free kicks against Zürich. [ 75 ] He was runner - up for the 2009 Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year, both of which were won by his rival Messi. In his first season in the Spanish league, Ronaldo scored 33 goals, including a hat-trick (against Mallorca on 5 May 2010), [ 76 ] [ 77 ] but the club failed to win the title. [ 78 ]
Ronaldo began wearing the number 7 shirt in the 2010–11 season after Raúl left the club. [ 79 ] On 23 October 2010, he scored four goals in a single match for the first time in his career, helping Madrid to a 6–1 win over Racing Santander. [ 80 ] He scored hat-tricks against Athletic Bilbao, Levante, Villarreal and Málaga that season. [ 81 ]
In April 2011, he scored twice in four El Clásicos (against Barcelona), taking his tally to 42, equalling his all-time tally in a single season. Despite Madrid's elimination in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, Ronaldo scored the winning goal in the Copa del Rey final, winning his first Spanish title. [ 82 ] [ 83 ] Within two weeks, Ronaldo scored four goals against Sevilla , [ 84 ] a hat-trick against Getafe, [ 85 ] and two free kicks against Villarreal, taking his league goals tally for the season to 38, equalling the league record held by Telmo Jara and Hugo Sánchez. [ 86 ] In the final match of the season, he scored twice against Almería, becoming the first player to score 40 goals in a single La Liga season. [ 87 ] [ 88 ] He also won the Pichichi Award (top scorer) for Spain, becoming the first player to win the award in two different leagues. [ 89 ] Ronaldo scored a total of 53 goals in all competitions that season.
Ronaldo wearing the number 9 jersey
In the 2011–12 season, he scored a total of 60 goals in all competitions. [ 90 ] His 100th goal for Real Madrid came in the Supercopa de España against Barcelona at the Camp Nou. [ 91 ] In 2011, he was runner-up for the FIFA Ballon d'Or. Ronaldo scored hat-tricks against five clubs (Real Zaragoza, Rayo Vallecano, Málaga, Osasuna, Sevilla) to put Madrid top of the league at the halfway point of the season. [ 92 ] That season, Real Madrid won the league with a record 100 points. [ 93 ] Ronaldo broke Puskás' record when he reached 100 goals in 92 league games on 24 March 2012, setting a new club record. [ 94 ] Ronaldo scored 46 goals that season. [ 95 ] He also became the first player to score against all 19 opponents in the league in a single season. [ 96 ]
At the start of the 2012–13 season, Madrid won the Supercopa de España. Ronaldo also scored twice in the Super Cup against Barcelona, helping Madrid win the title. [ 97 ] He scored his first hat-trick in the Champions League against Ajax, which Madrid won 4–1. [ 98 ] Four days later, he scored both goals in El Clásico, a 2–2 draw, becoming the first player to score in six consecutive El Clásicos. Ronaldo also finished second in the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or. [ 99 ]
2013–2014: Consecutive Ballon d'Or and La Decima
Ronaldo captained Real Madrid for the first time on 6 January 2013, during the 2012–13 season. He scored twice in a 4–3 win over Real Sociedad, a match reduced to 10 men. [ 100 ] He became the first non-Spanish player to captain Madrid in El Clásico in 60 years, when he played his 500th match for the club against Barcelona. [ 101 ] Three days earlier, he had reached his 300th club goal with a hat-trick against Getafe. On 8 May, he scored his 200th goal for Real Madrid (in 197 appearances) against Málaga. [ 102 ] Despite his impressive performances, Madrid were eliminated in the Copa del Rey final and the Champions League semi-final for the third time in a row, and finished runners-up in the league. [ 103 ] However, Ronaldo scored six goals in consecutive matches at Camp Nou, becoming the second-highest scorer in the Champions League with 12 goals, and taking his total goals in all competitions to 55 that season.
Ronaldo in a match in 2013
At the start of the 2013–14 season, he became the highest-paid footballer in the world after his contract with the club was renewed and extended until 2018. In 2013, Ronaldo scored 69 goals in 59 matches. [ 104 ] By the end of 2013, Ronaldo had scored 32 goals in 22 matches, including five hat-tricks (against Galatasaray, Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Northern Ireland, and Sweden). That year, he won the FIFA Ballon d'Or. [ 105 ]
Ronaldo played a key role in Real Madrid's 10th European Cup triumph. [ 106 ] Having excelled with clubs such as Schalke, Dortmund and Bayern Munich, he became the first player to score in a European Cup final for two winning teams when he scored from the penalty spot in a 4–1 victory over Atlético Madrid in the final. [ 107 ] Ronaldo played against doctor's advice in the final, stating: "In life, winning is impossible without sacrifice, so you have to take risks." [ 108 ] Ronaldo became the Champions League's top scorer for the third time with 17 goals, and was also named UEFA Player of the Year.
He scored twice in the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atlético Madrid but missed the final through injury, which Real won 2–1 against Barcelona. His first goal against Atlético Madrid in the semi-final made him the first player to score in every 90 minutes of a match. [ 109 ] Despite finishing third in La Liga, Ronaldo won the Pichichi Award and the European Golden Shoe (jointly with Suárez) with 31 goals. [ 110 ] On 6 January, he scored twice against Celta Vigo, his 400th goal for club and country in 653 appearances. His 50th goal of the season, a backheel volley against Valencia on 4 May, was voted La Liga's Goal of the Year and earned Ronaldo the La Liga Player of the Year award. [ 111 ] Ronaldo set a new personal record in the 2014–15 season with 61 goals. [ 112 ] On 6 December, Ronaldo became the fastest player in La Liga to score 200 goals in La Liga (178 matches) when he scored his 23rd La Liga hat-trick. After winning the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, [ 113 ] Ronaldo won his second consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming one of only a handful of players to win the award three times. [ 114 ]
2015-2016: Real Madrid's top scorer and La Undecima
Ronaldo against Schalke in 2015
Both Real and Ronaldo's form declined after the winter break of the 2014–15 season. [ 115 ] Despite Ronaldo scoring the opening goal in the first match of 2015, Madrid lost 2–1 to Valencia, ending their 22-match winning streak. [ 116 ] Real Madrid finished second in La Liga that season and were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League. [ 117 ] Ronaldo played a key role in helping the team reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. [ 118 ] With 10 goals in the Champions League, he became the third consecutive top scorer and fourth overall. [ 115 ]
Real Madrid finished second in La Liga, but Ronaldo's goals continued to pour in. On 5 April, he scored five goals in a single match for the first time in his career, against Granada. [ 119 ] Three days later, he scored his 300th goal for Madrid against Rayo Vallecano. [ 120 ] He took his hat-trick tally for Real to 31 with hat-tricks against Sevilla, Espanyol and Granada. Alfredo Di Stéfano was the leading hat-trick scorer for Real Madrid with 28. [ 115 ] [ 121 ] Ronaldo scored 48 league goals that season. He also won the Pichichi Award for a record fourth time. [ 115 ]
Ronaldo (center) preparing for the match
At the start of Ronaldo's seventh season at Real Madrid (2015–16), he became the club's top scorer in the league and in all competitions. On 12 September 2015, he scored five goals against Espanyol, taking his tally to 230 goals in La Liga (203 appearances), surpassing Raúl. [ 122 ] On 17 October, he scored one goal against Levante, taking his tally to 324 goals in all competitions, surpassing Raúl. [ 123 ] He also became the top scorer in the history of the UEFA Champions League, scoring a hat-trick against Shakhtar Donetsk. [ 124 ] On 30 September, he reached the milestone of 500 goals for club and country, scoring twice against Malmö FF. [ 125 ] He became the first player to score in double figures in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, scoring 11 goals, including four in another match against Malmö FF. [ 126 ] Ronaldo finished second in the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or. [ 127 ]
On 5 March 2016, he scored four goals against Salta Vigo to take his tally to 252 in La Liga, overtaking Zarra to become the second-highest scorer in the competition's history. [ 128 ] On 2 April, Ronaldo scored the winning goal in a 2–1 El Clásico win for ten-man Real Madrid, [ 129 ] and scored a hat-trick against Wolfsburg to overturn a 2–0 first-leg deficit and advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League, winning 3–2 on aggregate. [ 130 ] He became the fourth consecutive top scorer in the Champions League, with 16 goals, and the fifth overall. [ 131 ] The 2016 Champions League Final was again against Atlético Madrid. After 120 minutes of play, he scored the winning goal in a penalty shootout. It was Real Madrid's 11th European Cup (La Undecima) and Ronaldo's third Champions League title. [ 132 ] This marked Ronaldo's sixth consecutive season scoring over 50 goals, and he was awarded the UEFA Player of the Year award for that season. [ 132 ]
On 6 November 2016, he agreed to extend his contract with the club until 2021. [ 133 ] On 19 November, he became the all-time leading scorer in the Madrid derby (18) when he scored a hat-trick against Atlético Madrid. [ 134 ] [ 135 ] On 15 December 2016, he scored his 500th club goal (377 Real Madrid, 118 United, 5 Sporting) in the Club World Cup semi-final against Club America. [ 136 ] In the Club World Cup final, he scored a hat-trick against Kashima Antlers of Japan. [ 137 ] He was named the tournament's best player after scoring four goals. [ 138 ] Ronaldo won the 2016 Ballon d'Or and was also named FIFA World Player of the Year 2016, a feat that was also evident in his country Portugal's Euro 2016 triumph. [ 139 ]
2017–present: 400 Real Madrid goals and La Duodecima
On 27 January 2017, Ronaldo scored his 57th goal in La Liga from a penalty kick in a 1-0 win over Villarreal, breaking Hugo Sánchez's record. [ 140 ] [ 141 ] The goal was Real Madrid's 5,900th goal in La Liga, making them the first La Liga club to reach the milestone. [ 142 ] Ronaldo scored twice in the first leg (at Bayern's stadium) and three times in the second leg (at Real's stadium) of the Champions League quarter-finals on 12 April 2016. With these goals, he became the first player to score 100 goals in the Champions League. [ 143 ] On 2 May 2017, he scored another hat-trick in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid, becoming the first player to score 50 goals in the group stage of the competition. [ 144 ] On 17 May, he set a new record for most goals scored in Europe's top five leagues when he scored twice in a league match against Celta Vigo. [ 145 ] Real Madrid won the La Liga title that season, [ 146 ] and became the first team to win the Champions League in consecutive seasons. [ 147 ] Ronaldo became the first player to score in three Champions League finals when he scored twice against Juventus in the final, and he also reached 600 goals in his career. [ 148 ] He also became the top scorer in a Champions League season for the fifth consecutive time and sixth overall. It was Real Madrid's third Champions League title in four years and their twelfth European title (La Duodecima in Spanish). [ 149 ]
International sports life
2001–2006: Beginning
Ronaldo wearing the captain's armband
Ronaldo began his playing career in 2001 with the youth team of the Portugal national football team. He played 34 matches for the under-15, under-17, under-20, under-21 and under-23 levels, scoring 18 goals. [ 150 ] He made his debut for the national team on 20 August 2003, aged 18, against Kazakhstan. Portugal won the match 1–0. [ 151 ]
He scored his first goal for the national team in the group stage match against Greece at UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal, but Portugal lost 2–1. [ 152 ] He helped his team reach the final by scoring a penalty shootout goal in the quarter-final against England and the opening goal in the semi-final against the Netherlands. [ 153 ] However, Portugal lost the final match 0–1 to Greece. [ 154 ] He scored two goals and provided two assists in the tournament, and was named in the Team of the Tournament. He was the second-highest scorer in the European qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup with seven goals. [ 155 ] He scored his first World Cup goal in the 2006 World Cup, a penalty kick, in the group stage match against Iran. Wayne Rooney was shown a red card for stamping on a Portugal defender in the quarter-final against England, but Ronaldo was accused of inciting the referee. [ 156 ] Ronaldo's team lost 1–0 to France in the semi-final. [ 157 ]
2006–2012: Captain
Ronaldo captained Portugal for the first time in a friendly match against Brazil on 6 February 2007, the day after his 22nd birthday. [ 158 ] Ronaldo was given the number 7 shirt for the first time in the national team on the eve of UEFA Euro 2008. [ 159 ] He scored eight goals in qualifying, but only once in the tournament. [ 160 ]
He was appointed permanent captain of Portugal in July 2008. Ronaldo failed to score in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He was named the best player in all of the group stage matches at the World Cup. [ 161 ] He scored only one goal in the tournament. [ 162 ]
Ronaldo led his team to the tournament by scoring seven goals in the qualifying round of UEFA Euro 2012. [ 163 ] He inspired Portugal to reach the semi-finals. [ 164 ] [ 165 ] [ 166 ] He was named in the Team of the Tournament, becoming joint top scorer of the tournament with three goals. [ 167 ]
2012–2016: Top scorer and Euro Cup winner
Ronaldo looking to head in Euro 2016
He scored eight goals in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. His 100th international appearance was against Northern Ireland on 17 October 2012. [ 168 ] He scored his first international hat-trick against Northern Ireland on 6 September 2013. [ 169 ] After Portugal failed to qualify automatically, he scored all four goals in a play-off against Sweden to secure their place in the World Cup. [ 170 ] Ronaldo became Portugal's top scorer with two goals in a win over Cameroon on 5 March 2014. [ 171 ]
Portugal's hopes for the 2014 World Cup were pinned on Ronaldo. As a result, he played in the tournament, despite a thigh problem. [ 172 ] [ 173 ] He scored one goal in the tournament, taking his international tally to 50, becoming the first Portuguese player to score in three World Cups. [ 174 ] Portugal were eliminated in the group stage on goal difference.
Ronaldo scored six goals in the qualifying round of UEFA Euro 2016. [ 175 ] [ 176 ] [ 177 ] [ 178 ] He became the top scorer of UEFA Euro 2016 (including qualifying) on 14 November 2014 with 23 goals. [ 179 ] In Portugal's opening two matches at Euro 2016, Ronaldo failed to score a single goal from 20 shots on goal. The match against Austria was Ronaldo's 128th international appearance, overtaking Luis Figo as Portugal's most capped player. [ 180 ] He scored two goals and assisted one goal in the final group match to help Portugal progress to the knockout stages. He also became the first player to score in four editions of the tournament, playing a record 17 matches. [ 181 ]
Portugal defeated Croatia in extra time in the round of 16 and Poland in a penalty shootout in the round of 8. [ 182 ] He became the first player to play in three European Championship semi-finals when he played Wales in the semi-final. [ 183 ] He scored one goal and assisted one goal in that match, helping Portugal reach the final. He also equalled Michel Platini's record of nine goals in a European Championship. [ 184 ] Ronaldo was injured in the final after a collision with a French player. He was forced off in the 25th minute after failing to play despite several attempts to play. Portugal won the title by scoring one goal in extra time. [ 185 ] As captain, he lifted Portugal's first international trophy. With three goals and three assists, he won the Silver Boot (second highest scorer) of the tournament and was named in the Team of the Tournament for the third time. [ 186 ] [ 187 ]
"I admire Ronaldo. If I had to create a football team, he would be the first player I would choose."
—Pele during an interview [ 188 ]
2016–2018: European title and FIFA World Cup qualification
On 8 October 2016, he scored four goals in a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Andorra , the most he has ever scored in a single match for his national team. [ 189 ] On 13 November, he scored twice against Latvia, taking his international tally to 68, making him the fourth-highest international goalscorer in Europe. [ 190 ] He made his professional debut in his home city on 28 March 2017. With a goal in that match, he took his international tally to 71, making him the third-highest international goalscorer in Europe (equal to Germany's Miroslav Klose). [ 191 ] Ronaldo was named man of the match in all three group stage matches at the 2017 Confederations Cup. [ 192 ] He scored his 75th international cap in a group stage match against New Zealand, moving him into second place on the list of Europe's all-time leading international goalscorers. [ 193 ] Portugal finished third in the tournament. [ 194 ] On 31 August, Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in Portugal's 5–1 win over the Faroe Islands in a World Cup qualifier, moving him past Pelé to become fifth on the all-time international goalscorer list with 78 goals.
2018–present, inactivity and Nations League title
Following the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo missed six international matches, including all of the group stage matches of the UEFA Nations League . Ronaldo's hat-trick against Switzerland helped Portugal reach the final. [ 196 ] Portugal defeated the Netherlands 1–0 in the final.
On 17 November 2019, Ronaldo scored his 99th goal as the national team defeated Luxembourg and qualified for Euro 2020.
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi[note 1] (Spanish pronunciation: [ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesi] ⓘ; born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, Messi set numerous records for individual accolades won throughout his professional footballing career, including eight Ballon d'Ors, six European Golden Shoes, and eight times being named the world's best player by FIFA.[note 2] He is the most decorated player in the history of professional football having won 45 team trophies.[note 3] Messi's records include most goals in a calendar year (91), most goal contributions (21) in the FIFA World Cup, and most goal contributions (32) in the Copa América. A prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, Messi has scored over 850 senior career goals and has provided over 380 assists for club and country.[21]
Messi made his competitive debut for Barcelona at age 17 in October 2004. He gradually established himself as an integral player for the club, and during his first uninterrupted season at age 22 in 2008–09 he helped Barcelona achieve the first treble in Spanish football. This resulted in Messi winning the first of four consecutive Ballon d'Ors, and by the 2011–12 season he set the European record for most goals in a season and established himself as Barcelona's all-time top scorer. During the 2014–15 campaign, where he became the all-time top scorer in La Liga, he led Barcelona to a historic second treble, leading to a fifth Ballon d'Or in 2015. He assumed Barcelona's captaincy in 2018 and won a record sixth Ballon d'Or in 2019. At Barcelona, Messi won a club-record 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues, among others. Financial difficulties at Barcelona led to Messi signing with French club Paris Saint-Germain in August 2021, where he won the Ligue 1 title during both of his seasons there. He joined MLS club Inter Miami in July 2023.
An Argentine international, Messi is the national team's all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player. Several years after his senior debut in 2005, he won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Assuming captaincy in 2011, he led Argentina to three consecutive finals in the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Copa América and the Copa América Centenario, all of which they would lose. After initially announcing his international retirement in 2016, he returned to help his country narrowly qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Messi was central to ending Argentina's 28-year trophy drought by winning the 2021 Copa América, which helped him secure his seventh Ballon d'Or that year. In the following year, he led Argentina to winning the 2022 World Cup, the country's first in 36 years. This followed with a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023. Messi was victorious at the 2024 Copa América, his third major international title.
Messi has endorsed sportswear company Adidas since 2006. According to France Football, he was the world's highest-paid footballer for five years out of six between 2009 and 2014, and was ranked the world's highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2019 and 2022. Messi was among Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2011, 2012, and 2023. In 2020 and 2023, he was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, the first team-sport athlete to win it. In 2020, Messi was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team and became the second footballer and second team-sport athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings. Following his arrival and impact on football in the US, Messi was named Time's Athlete of the Year in 2023, and was bestowed with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US president Joe Biden in 2025.
Early life
Messi's childhood home in Rosario, Santa Fe.
Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province.[22] He was the third of four children of Jorge Messi, a steel factory manager, and his wife Celia Cuccittini, who worked in a magnet manufacturing workshop. On his father's side, he is of Italian and Spanish descent, the great-grandson of immigrants from the north-central Adriatic Marche region of Italy, and on his mother's side, he has primarily Italian ancestry.[3] Growing up in a tight-knit, football-loving family, "Leo" developed a passion for the sport from an early age, playing constantly with his older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías, and his cousins, Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi, both of whom became professional footballers.[23]
At the age of four he joined local club Grandoli, where he was coached by his father. Another early influence came from his maternal grandmother, Celia, who accompanied him to training and matches.[24] He was greatly affected by her death, shortly before his eleventh birthday. Since then, as a devout Catholic, he has celebrated his goals by looking up and pointing to the sky in tribute to his grandmother.[25][26]
Youth career
Newell's Old Boys
"When you saw him you would think: this kid can't play ball. He's a dwarf, he's too fragile, too small. But immediately you'd realise that he was born different, that he was a phenomenon and that he was going to be something impressive."
– Newell's Old Boys youth coach Adrián Coria shares his first impression of the 12-year-old Messi.[27]
Messi is a lifelong supporter of Newell's Old Boys, based in Rosario. When he was seven years old, he first started playing for Newell's. During the six years he played for them, he scored almost 500 goals, and was a member of "The Machine of '87", a nearly unbeatable youth side named for the year of their birth. Messi would regularly entertain crowds by performing ball tricks during half-time, when the first team played home games.[28][29][30] His goalscoring idol growing up was Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who Messi called "the best forward I've ever seen".[31]
His future as a professional player was threatened when, aged 10, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. He began growth hormone therapy at age 11,[32] however his father's health insurance covered only two years of the therapy, which cost at least 1,000 pesos per month. Newell's agreed to contribute, but later reneged on their promise.[33] He was scouted by Buenos Aires club River Plate, whose playmaker Pablo Aimar he idolised.[34][35] It was speculated for a time that he failed to sign with River Plate due to his ill health; however, in a 2019 interview, Messi revealed that River Plate had wanted to sign him after he scored four goals at a trial, and even offered to pay for his medical treatment, however Newell's refused to release his player card, preventing the transfer.[36]
Barcelona
Messi enrolled at Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, aged 13.
As the Messi family had relatives in Catalonia, they sought to arrange a trial with Barcelona in September 2000. First-team director Charly Rexach immediately wanted to sign him, but the board of directors hesitated; at the time it was highly unusual for European clubs to sign foreign players of such a young age. On 14 December, an ultimatum was issued for Barcelona to prove their commitment, and Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered a contract on a paper napkin.[34][37] In February 2001, the family relocated to Barcelona, where they moved into an apartment near the club's stadium, Camp Nou. During his first year in Spain, Messi rarely played with the Infantiles due to a transfer conflict with Newell's; as a foreigner, he could only be fielded in friendlies and the Catalan league. Without football, he struggled to integrate into the team. He was reserved by nature, and was so quiet that some of his teammates initially believed he was mute. At home, he suffered from homesickness after his mother moved back to Rosario with his brothers and younger sister, María Sol, while he stayed in Barcelona with his father.[28][37][38]
After a year at Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, Messi was finally enrolled in the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in February 2002. Now he could play in all competitions, and quickly befriended his teammates, among whom were Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué.[39] After completing his growth hormone therapy at 14,[40] Messi became an integral part of the "Baby Dream Team", Barcelona's greatest-ever youth side. During his first full season (2002–03), he was top scorer with 36 goals in 30 games for the Cadetes A, who won an unprecedented treble of the league, the Spanish cup, and the Copa Catalunya.[39][41] In the Copa Catalunya final, their 4–1 victory over Espanyol became referred to in club lore as the partido de la máscara, the final of the mask. A week after suffering a broken cheekbone during a league match, Messi was allowed to start the game on the condition that he wear a plastic protector; soon hindered by the mask, he took it off and scored two goals in 10 minutes before his substitution.[42] At the close of the season, he received an offer to join Arsenal, his first from a foreign club. Although Fàbregas and Piqué soon left for England with their own offers, Messi chose to remain in Barcelona.[37][43][44]
Messi continued to progress through his club's ranks at a rapid pace, debuting for four youth teams during the 2003–04 season.[45] After being named player of the tournament in four separate international pre-season competitions with the Juvenil B, he played only one official match with the team before being promoted to the Juvenil A. In the Juvenil A he scored 18 goals in 11 league games.[46][47] Messi was then one of several youth players called up to strengthen a depleted first team during the international break. French winger Ludovic Giuly explained that Messi caught everyone's attention in a training session with Frank Rijkaard's first team: "He destroyed us all... They were kicking him all over the place to avoid being ridiculed by this kid, he just got up and kept on playing. He would dribble pas
Messi began the 2004–05 season as a guaranteed starter for the Barcelona B team, but after some lobbying by the senior players, he was promoted to the first team by manager Frank Rijkaard.[52] He made his La Liga debut for Barcelona on 16 October 2004 against Espanyol,[37] and scored his first senior goal on 1 May 2005 against Albacete, from an assist by Ronaldinho, becoming at that time the youngest-ever scorer for the club.[58][59] At 17 years, three months, and 22 days old, he was at the time the youngest player to represent Barcelona in an official competition, and the club won the league title during that season.[54][60]
On his 18th birthday, he signed his first contract as a senior team player, a five-year contract through 2010 with a release clause of €150 million.[61] Three months later, as his performance continued to make waves, his contract was updated to a nine-year contract, doubling his salary and keeping him at the club until 2014.[56][62]
Barcelona began the 2005–06 season by winning the Supercopa de España without Messi, who was not selected to participate in the competition.[19] By the end of the season, the team won La Liga again as well as the UEFA Champions League, although Messi did not play in the final for the latter due to injury.[63][64]
During the 2006–07 season, Messi scored his first hat-trick in a Clásico against Real Madrid, the first player to do so in 12 years.[65] An incredibly finesse goal from Messi against Getafe and another goal scored by a handball against Espanyol gained notice for their similarities to the two famous goals scored by fellow Argentine Diego Maradona in the 1986 World Cup match against England, drawing comparisons between the two that Messi would face throughout his career.[66][67][68] The team finished the season with only one trophy – the 2006 Supercopa de España.
Barcelona finished the next 2007–08 season trophyless, leading to Rijkaard's departure.[69]
2008–2012: Success under Pep Guardiola
At the beginning of the 2008–09 season, his first under Barcelona's new manager, former captain Pep Guardiola, Messi was given the number 10 shirt.[70] Over time, he effectively became the tactical focal point of Guardiola's possession-based system, increasing his goalscoring rate as a result.[71] During that season, Messi scored 38 total goals, and alongside Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry, contributed to a total of 100 goals in all competitions, a record at the time for the club.[72][73] Messi played as a false nine for the first time in a Clásico against Real Madrid, setting up his side's first goal and scoring twice in the team's greatest-ever score at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.[74][75] He played his first final, winning the Copa del Rey.[76] In addition, Barcelona won the La Liga title and later won the Champions League, thus achieving the first treble in the history of Spanish football.[77]
Messi during the 2009 Joan Gamper Trophy against Manchester City.
During the first half of the 2009–10 season, Barcelona would also win the Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, resulting in becoming the first club to achieve the sextuple.[78][79] Messi finished as the Champions League top scorer, the youngest in the tournament's history.[80] For his efforts in 2009, Messi won the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award.[81] Messi scored a total of 47 goals in all competitions, equaling Ronaldo's club record from the 1996–97 campaign.[82][83] He finished the season as top scorer in the Champions League,[84] and La Liga, winning his second consecutive league trophy and earned his first European Golden Shoe.[83][85] After the team won the Champions League, he signed a new 7-year contract through 2016.[61]
In the 2010–11 campaign, Messi won the Supercopa de España,[86] Champions League,[87] and a third consecutive La Liga title. His club performances in 2010 earned him his second consecutive Ballon d'Or.[88] Messi was the top scorer in the Champions League, for the third consecutive year,[89] and the league's top scorer and assist provider.[90][91] He became Barcelona's all-time single-season top scorer with 53 goals.[90][92]
"I feel sorry for those who want to compete for Messi's throne – it's impossible, this kid is unique."
– Pep Guardiola after Messi became Barcelona's all-time top scorer at the age of 24 in March 2012[93]
Messi began the 2011–12 season winning both the Spanish and European Super Cups trophies.[94][95] At the close of the year, he won the FIFA Club World Cup and earned the Golden Ball for a second time.[96] For his efforts in 2011, he received the FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming only the fourth player in history to win the Ballon d'Or three times,[97] and the inaugural UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.[98] During the year 2012, Messi became the second player to be top scorer in four Champions League campaigns.[99][100] Messi became the top goalscorer in Barcelona's history at 24 years old, overtaking the 57-year record of César Rodríguez's 232 goals with a hat-trick against Granada.[101] He finished the season as league top scorer in Spain and Europe for a second time, with 50 goals, a La Liga record, while his 73 goals in all competitions made him the single-season top scorer in the history of European club football excluding regional and local competitions.[102][103] The team would also win the Copa del Rey that season, their 14th trophy under Guardiola, who resigned following the season after a four-year cycle of success.[104]
2012–2014: Record-breaking year and Messidependencia
Messi scored a record-breaking 91 goals with Argentina (above) and Barcelona (below) in 2012.
For the start of the 2012–13 season, Barcelona had virtually secured their La Liga title by the start of 2013.[105] A double scored against Real Betis saw Messi becoming Barcelona's all-time top scorer in La Liga, and surpassed Gerd Müller's record of most goals scored in a calendar year; Messi would score a record 91 goals in all competitions for Barcelona and Argentina throughout 2012.[106][107] Messi again won the FIFA Ballon d'Or, becoming the first player in history to win the Ballon d'Or four times.[107][108] He signed a new contract committing himself to the club through 2018, and wore the captain's armband for the first time in a league match against Rayo Vallecano.[109][110][111] The team would win La Liga again that year, Messi's sixth, equalling Real Madrid's 100-point record of the previous season. With 60 goals in all competitions, including 46 goals in La Liga, he finished the campaign as league top scorer in Spain and Europe for the second consecutive year, becoming the first player in history to win the European Golden Shoe three times.[112]
Messi's overall input into the team's attack had increased significantly. Whereas he contributed to 24% of the team's goals in their treble-winning campaign in 2008–09, this number rose to more than 40% by the end of the 2012–13 season.[113] These statistics, as well as lopsided losses in the Champions League where Messi was unfit, gave credence to the notion of Messidependencia, Barcelona's perceived tactical and psychological dependence on their star player.[114]
To offset the load on Messi, Barcelona would sign Brazilian forward Neymar from Santos before the 2013–14 season.[115] The team would win the Supercopa de España at the beginning of the season.[116] Messi finished the campaign with his worst output in five seasons, though he still managed to score 41 goals in all competitions.[117] For the first time in five years, Barcelona ended the season without a major trophy.[118]
2014–2017: Arrival of Luis Enrique and birth of MSN
Messi dribbling past Patrice Evra of Juventus during the 2015 UEFA Champions League final.
Barcelona hired coach Luis Enrique before the 2014–15 season, and would continue to aid Messi in the attack by signing Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez, who had won the European Golden Shoe the year before at Liverpool.[119][120] Luis Enrique's system would feature quick transitions from defense to attack, led by the front three of Messi, Suárez and Neymar. The attacking trio, which colloquially became known as 'MSN', would break goalscoring records.[121] A hat-trick scored against Sevilla earlier in the season would also make him the all-time top scorer in La Liga, as he surpassed the 59-year record of 251 league goals held by Telmo Zarra.[122] After securing the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League that year, Messi helped Barcelona become the first club to win the continental treble twice.[123][124] He would record 58 goals, but combined with Neymar and Suárez, the attacking trio scored a total of 122 goals in all competitions that season, a record in Spanish football.[125]
Messi opened the 2015–16 season by helping Barcelona's win over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup.[126] Messi capped off the year by winning the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup final over River Plate in Yokohama, collecting his fifth club trophy of the calendar year.[127] On 11 January 2016, Messi won the FIFA Ballon d'Or for a record fifth time in his career.[128] He would end the season by winning La Liga as well as the Copa del Rey again.[129] In total, Messi scored 41 goals, and Barcelona's attacking trio of him, Neymar and Suárez managed a Spanish record of 131 combined goals throughout the season, breaking the record they had set the previous season.[130]
The 2016–17 season would end with Messi winning the Supercopa de España and the Copa del Rey.[131][132] He would finish the season with 54 goals, while his 37 goals in La Liga saw him claim both the Pichichi and European Golden Boot Awards for the fourth time in his career.[133] Messi, Neymar and Suárez would combine for 110 goals by season's end. Neymar would depart for Paris Saint Germain the next year, leaving the attacking trio with a combined total of 363 goals over the course of three seasons.[134] Luis Enrique would also leave Barcelona at the end of the season after managing the club to a total of nine trophies during his three-year tenure.[135]
2017–2021: Final years at Barcelona
Messi, wearing the captain's armband, against Real Valladolid in 2018.
Messi would sign a new deal with Barcelona on 25 November 2017, his ninth contract with the club, keeping him with the club through 2021.[136] The 2017–18 season saw Messi achieving the domestic double, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey once again.[137] He once again finished the season as the top scorer in La Liga, with 34 goals, which also saw him win his fifth European Golden Shoe award.[138] With the departure of former captain Andrés Iniesta in May 2018, Messi was named the team's new captain for the 2018–19 season.[139] He lifted his first trophy as Barcelona's captain, the Supercopa de España, following a 2–1 victory over Sevilla. He helped Barcelona clinch the La Liga title, his tenth but first as captain.[140] With 36 goals in 34 appearances that season, he won his sixth league Golden Boot trophy, equalling Zarra as the player with the most top-scorer awards in La Liga.[141][142] He also captured his sixth Golden Shoe award, and a record third consecutive award since the 2016–17 season.[143]
Messi would win his sixth Ballon d'Or, but the subsequent 2019–20 season saw Barcelona go trophyless for the first time since 2007–08.[144] Following a disappointing season, Barcelona announced that Messi sent the club "a document expressing his desire to leave", but Messi ultimately decided to fulfill the final year of his contract.[145][146] The 2020–21 season saw Messi surpass Xavi's record to reach a club record of 768 appearances.[147] He would lead the club to victory in the 2021 Copa del Rey final.[148][149] His last two seasons with Barcelona saw him lead La Liga in goal scoring, giving him a record-breaking total of eight Pichichi trophies.[150][151]
Messi became a free agent after his contract expired, with negotiations on a new deal complicated due to Barcelona's financial issues.[152][153] Barcelona would eventually announce that Messi would not be staying at the club, citing financial and structural obstacles posed by La Liga regulations as a reason for Messi's departure.[154][155] In a tearful press conference held at the Camp Nou, Messi confirmed that he would be leaving Barcelona.[156]
Paris Saint-Germain
Messi (middle) with PSG team-mates Kylian Mbappé (left) and Neymar.
On 10 August 2021, Messi joined Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), reuniting him with Neymar, for the 2021–22 season on a two-year deal until June 2023 with an option for an extra year.[157][158] Messi chose 30 as his squad number, the same he wore as a teenager when he made his senior debut for Barcelona.[159] He would make his debut with the club against Reims, made his first start and Champions League debut for the club against Club Brugge, and made his home debut in a match against Lyon[160][161][162] He scored his first goal for the club in a Champions League group stage win over former manager Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.[163] Having scored 40 goals at club and international level for the calendar year in addition to captaining Argentina to the 2021 Copa América, Messi received a record seventh Ballon d'Or.[164] He finished his debut season with PSG with 11 goals and 14 assists across all competitions, helping the club win their 10th Ligue 1 title.[165]
Beginning the 2022–23 season, Messi would win his second trophy with PSG in the Trophée des Champions.[166] A goal against Nice resulted in him surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo as the all-time highest goalscorer in European club football with 702 goals; during the match, he also achieved 1,000 career direct goal contributions at club level.[167][168] By the end of the season, he had 21 goals across all competitors and the highest number of assists in the league with 16, which helped PSG clinch their 11th Ligue 1 title and his second in a row.[169][170][171] Following the last game of the season, manager Christophe Galtier confirmed that it would be Messi's last for PSG, with the club confirming his departure two days later.[172]
Inter Miami
Messi with Inter Miami in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup.
Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami CF announced the signing of Messi on a two-and-a-half-year contract on 15 July 2023.[173][174] Messi made his 2023 debut for the club in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul, scoring with a free-kick in stoppage time for a victory.[175] DeAndre Yedlin, the previous captain of Inter Miami, gave his armband to Messi, who took over as team captain.[176] Messi's arrival in the US was praised as a revelation, on and off the pitch, and his presence was credited for helping to raise the profile of MLS within the US and abroad. According to Goal, "Every game that he graces sparks a scramble for tickets, with plenty of A-list guests eager to watch him in action".[177] The frenzy over his arrival was dubbed "Messimania", and Inter Miami's No. 10 Messi jersey became the best-selling jersey in the league, and nearly the world.[178]
After scoring nine goals in his first six games for Miami, Messi led the team to the club's first-ever trophy, as it won the Leagues Cup against Nashville SC.[179] Messi made his MLS debut against the New York Red Bulls.[180] Miami would miss the playoffs, finishing 14th in the Eastern Conference, having gone winless in their last seven games.[181] On 30 October 2023, following his World Cup win with Argentina and Ligue 1 trophy with PSG, Messi was awarded a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or.[182] He was also named Time Athlete of the Year, the first footballer ever to win the award.[183]
Messi was among the Time 100, an annual list of the world's most influential people, in 2011, 2012 and 2023.[314][315][316] According to a 2014 survey in 15 international markets, Messi was familiar to 87% of respondents around the world, of whom 78% perceived him favourably, making him the second-most recognised player globally, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, and the most likable of all contemporary players.[317][318] World Press Photo selected "The Final Game", a photo of Messi facing the World Cup trophy after Argentina's final defeat to Germany, as the best sports image of 2014.[319] On his economic impact on the city in which he plays, Terry Gibson called him a "tourist attraction".[320]
His fanbase on Facebook is among the largest of public figures: within seven hours of its launch in April 2011, Messi's Facebook page had nearly seven million followers, and by July 2023 he had over 114 million followers, the second highest for a sportsperson after Ronaldo.[321][322] He has over 500 million Instagram followers, the second highest for an individual and sportsperson after Ronaldo.[323] His World Cup celebration post from 18 December 2022 is the most liked post on Instagram with over 75 million likes.[324]
On 20 March 2023, during a return to Buenos Aires following his World Cup victory, Messi was mobbed by hundreds of adoring fans when he and his family were out to dinner. When news spread where Messi and his family were, the restaurant was soon surrounded by locals hoping to get a glimpse of their World Cup-winning captain. Police assistance would be needed to get Messi back to his car in the early hours of the morning.[325] In April 2023, Messi was featured in the 200 year old Thrissur Pooram festival in Kerala, India.[326] During the festival, umbrellas carrying the illuminated cut outs of Messi holding the World Cup trophy were displayed on the top of caparisoned elephants during the Kudamattam ceremony.[327] In December 2023, a set of shirts Messi had worn during the 2022 World Cup was sold at auction for $7.8 million.[328]
During an exhibition match on 4 February 2024 in which Inter Miami faced off against the Hong Kong League players at Hong Kong Stadium, Messi remained on the bench the entire game, causing massive backlash in Hong Kong and China as a result.[329] A Messi commercial was taken off air in those regions,[330] while others remained despite pressure from Chinese social-media users.[331][332][333] Furthermore, the Chinese Football Association temporarily halted its partnership with the Argentine Football Association over the incident on 8 February.[334]
Wealth and sponsorships
Messi was the world's highest-paid footballer for five years out of six between 2009 and 2014; he was the first player to exceed the €40 million benchmark, with earnings of €41 million in 2013, and the €50–€60 million points, with income of €65 million in 2014.[335][336] Messi was second on Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes, after Cristiano Ronaldo, with income of $81 million from salary and endorsements in 2015–16.[337] In 2018, he was the first player to exceed the €100 million benchmark for a calendar year, with earnings of €126 million ($154 million) in combined income from salaries, bonuses and endorsements.[338] Forbes ranked him the world's highest-paid athlete in 2019.[339] From 2008, he was Barcelona's highest-paid player, receiving a salary that increased incrementally from €7.8 million to €13 million over the next five years.[340][341][109] Signing a new contract in 2017, he earned $667,000 per week in wages, and Barcelona paid him $60 million as a signing on bonus.[342] His buyout clause was set at $835 million (€700 million).[342] In 2020, Messi became the second footballer, as well as the second athlete in a team sport, after Ronaldo, to surpass $1 billion in earnings during their careers.[343] When signing with Inter Miami, his base salary was set at $12 million with guaranteed compensation totalling $20.4 million for the 2023 season; Messi was also set to earn additional shares from shirt sales, MLS Season Pass subscriptions, and a stake in the club itself.[344]
Messi's Argentina jersey, supplied by Adidas, was sold out worldwide during the 2022 World Cup.[345]
In addition to salary and bonuses, much of Messi's income derives from endorsements; SportsPro has consequently cited him as one of the world's most marketable athletes every year since their research began in 2010.[346] His main sponsor since 2006 is Adidas. As Barcelona's leading youth prospect, he was signed with Nike since age 14, but transferred to Adidas after they successfully challenged their rival's claim to his image rights in court.[347] Messi established himself as their leading brand endorser;[289] from 2008, he had a long-running signature collection of Adidas F50 boots, and in 2015, became the first footballer to receive his own sub-brand of Adidas boots, the Adidas Messi.[348][349] Since 2017, he has worn the latest version of the Adidas Nemeziz.[350] In 2015, a Barcelona jersey with Messi's name and number was the best-selling replica jersey worldwide.[351] At the 2022 World Cup, Adidas sold out Messi's No. 10 Argentina jersey worldwide.[345]
After blessing himself, Messi often celebrates a goal by pointing a finger on each hand towards the sky in dedication to his late grandmother.[352] His goal celebration features in the FIFA video game series.
As a commercial entity, Messi's brand has been based exclusively on his talents and achievements as a player, in contrast to arguably more glamorous players like Ronaldo and David Beckham. At the start of his career, he thus mainly held sponsorship contracts with companies that employ sports-oriented marketing, such as Adidas, Pepsi, and Konami.[353][354] From 2010, concurrently with increased achievements as a player, his marketing appeal widened, leading to long-term endorsement deals with luxury brands Dolce & Gabbana and Audemars Piguet.[353][355] Messi is a global brand ambassador for Gillette, Turkish Airlines, Ooredoo, and Tata Motors, among other companies.[356][357][358][359] In order to celebrate his achievement of becoming Barcelona's all-time goalscorer, Budweiser sent personalised bottles of beer to every goalkeeper whom Messi has scored against.[360] Messi was the face of Konami's video game series Pro Evolution Soccer, appearing on the covers of PES 2009, PES 2010, PES 2011 and PES 2020. He subsequently signed with rival company EA Sports to become the face of their series FIFA and appeared on consecutive covers from FIFA 13 to FIFA 16.[361][362]
In 2013, a Turkish Airlines advertisement starring Messi, in which he engages in a selfie competition with Kobe Bryant, was the most-watched ad on YouTube in 2013, receiving 137 million views, and was voted the best advertisement of the 2005–15 decade to commemorate YouTube's founding.[363][364] In June 2021, Messi signed a five-year deal to become an ambassador for the Hard Rock Cafe brand. He stated, "sports and music are an integral part of my life. It is an honor to be the first athlete to partner with a brand who has a history of teaming with music legends."[365]
In May 2022, Messi was unveiled as Saudi Arabia's tourism ambassador. Due to Saudi Arabia's poor human rights record, Messi was condemned for the role which was viewed as an attempt of Saudi sportswashing.[366][367]
Philanthropy
Throughout his career, Messi has been involved in charitable efforts aimed at vulnerable children, a commitment that stems in part from the medical difficulties he faced in his own childhood. Since 2004, he has contributed his time and finances to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), an organisation with which Barcelona also have a strong association.[368][369] Messi has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since his appointment in March 2010, completing his first field mission for the organisation four months later as he travelled to Haiti to bring public awareness to the plight of the country's children in the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He has since participated in UNICEF campaigns targeting HIV prevention, education, and the social inclusion of disabled children.[370] To celebrate his son's first birthday, in November 2013, Messi and Thiago were part of a publicity campaign to raise awareness of mortality rates among disadvantaged children.[371]
Messi (pictured in 2007) has worked with UNICEF since 2004 and has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010.
In addition to his work with UNICEF, Messi founded his own charitable organisation, the Leo Messi Foundation, which supports access to health care, education, and sport for children.[372] It was established in 2007 following a visit Messi paid to a hospital for terminally ill children in Boston, an experience that resonated with him to the point that he decided to reinvest part of his earnings into society.[373] Through his foundation, Messi has awarded research grants, financed medical training, and invested in the development of medical centres and projects in Argentina, Spain, and elsewhere in the world.[373][374] In addition to his own fundraising activities, such as his global "Messi and Friends" football matches, his foundation receives financial support from various companies to which he has assigned his name in endorsement agreements, with Adidas as their main sponsor.[375][376] A gold replica of his left foot, weighing 25 kg (55 lb) and valued at $5.3 million, went on sale in Japan in 2013 to raise funds for victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[377]
Messi has also invested in youth football in Argentina: he financially supports Sarmiento, a football club based in the Rosario neighbourhood where he was born, committing in 2013 to the refurbishment of their facilities and the installation of all-weather pitches, and funds the management of several youth players at Newell's Old Boys and rival club Rosario Central, as well as at River Plate and Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires.[373] At Newell's Old Boys, his boyhood club, he funded the 2012 construction of a new gymnasium and a dormitory inside the club's stadium for their youth academy. His former youth coach at Newell's, Ernesto Vecchio, is employed by the Leo Messi Foundation as a talent scout for young players.[28] On 7 June 2016, Messi won a libel case against La Razón newspaper and was awarded €65,000 in damages, which he donated to the charity Médecins Sans Frontières.[378] Messi made a donation worth €1 million ($1.1 million) to fight the spread of coronavirus.[379] This was split between Clinic Barcelona in Barcelona and his native Argentina.[380] In addition to this, Messi along with his fellow FC Barcelona teammates announced he would be taking a 70% cut in salaries during the 2020 coronavirus emergency, and contribute further to the club to provide fully to salaries of all the clubs employees.[381]
In November 2016, with the Argentine Football Association being run by a FIFA committee for emergency due to an economic crisis, it was reported that three of the national team's security staff told Messi that they had not received their salaries for six months. He stepped in and paid the salaries of the three members.[382][383] In February 2021, Messi donated to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya his Adidas shoes which he wore when he scored his 644th goal for Barcelona and broke Pelé's record for most goals scored for a single club; the shoes were later auctioned off in April by the museum for charity to help children with cancer and were sold for £125,000.[384]
In advance of the 2021 Copa América, Messi donated three signed shirts to the Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech – whose directors spoke of their admiration for Messi – in order to secure 50,000 doses of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine, CoronaVac, in the hope of vaccinating all of South America's football players.[385] A deal brokered by Uruguay's president Luis Lacalle Pou, the plan to prioritise football players caused some controversy given widespread vaccine scarcity in the region, with the Mayor of Canelones Yamandú Orsi remarking that "Just as the president manifested cooperation with CONMEBOL to vaccinate for the Copa América, he could just as well have the same consideration for Canelones".[385]
In January 2025, Messi was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States, by President Joe Biden for his contributions in supporting healthcare and education programs for children around the world.[386] He would be unable to attend the ceremony due to scheduling conflicts, but sent a letter expressing his appreciation for the honor and his hopes of meeting President Biden at a later date.[387]
One of many street art displays depicting Messi.
Street art and public murals depicting Messi are regularly painted around the world.[388][389] One prominent artwork that went viral is the Sistine Chapel of Football, a parody of Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam that features both Messi and Diego Maradona, along with several other prominent Argentine footballers. The work is exhibited at the Sportivo Pereyra club from Barracas in Buenos Aires.[390]
Several public sculptures with Messi's likeness have been erected. Madame Tussauds unveiled their first wax sculpture of Messi at Wembley Stadium in 2012.[391] After the announcement of his first retirement from the international team in June 2016, a bronze statue of Messi was erected in Buenos Aires days later in an attempt to convince him to return.[392] A life-sized statue of Messi holding the World Cup trophy was unveiled outside the CONMEBOL headquarters in Luque, Paraguay in March 2023, a few months after Argentina's World Cup win. The statue would stand alongside those of Pelé and Maradona.[393]