Top 50 Lesser-Known Facts about Lionel Messi: A Glorious Career

The 2023 FIFA World Cup winner, Messi’s love for football was evident from a young age. He began playing for a local club, Grandoli, coached by his father. However, at the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency, a condition that threatened to derail his budding football career. The cost of treatment was prohibitive for his family, but fate intervened when FC Barcelona offered to cover his medical expenses if he moved to Spain and joined their renowned La Masia academy. At the age of 13, Messi relocated to Barcelona with his family, embarking on a new chapter that would change his life forever.

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022 Final Argentina vs France: Messi Grabs the World Cup and Completed Football

Here’s 50 Lesser-known facts about him:

1. Nickname: Messi is often called “La Pulga,” which means “The Flea,” due to his small stature and speed.
2. Medical Condition: He was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency at the age of 11.
3. Early Life: Messi moved to Barcelona from Argentina at the age of 13 to join FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
4. First Contract: His first contract with Barcelona was written on a napkin.
5. Debut: Messi made his first-team debut for Barcelona at the age of 17 in 2004.
6. Hat-Trick Record: Messi has scored the most hat-tricks in La Liga history.
7. Youngest to Score: He became the youngest player to score for Barcelona in La Liga at the age of 17.
8. Charity Work: Messi runs the Leo Messi Foundation, which supports access to education and health care for vulnerable children.
9. UNICEF Ambassador: He is a global ambassador for UNICEF.
10. Goals in a Calendar Year: Messi holds the record for the most goals scored in a calendar year (91 goals in 2012).
11. Golden Foot: He has won the European Golden Shoe award multiple times, more than any other player.
12. Ballon d’Or Wins: Messi has won the Ballon d’Or seven times, the most in history.
13. Assists Record: He also holds the record for the most assists in La Liga.
14. Free-Kick Goals: Messi has scored more free-kick goals than any other active player.
15. International Debut: He was sent off just 47 seconds into his debut for Argentina.
16. Olympic Gold: Messi won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina in 2008.
17. Tattoos: He has several tattoos, including ones of his mother’s face and his son’s hands.
18. Marriage: Messi married his childhood sweetheart, Antonela Roccuzzo, in 2017.
19. Children: He has three sons: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro.
20. Diet: Messi follows a strict diet to maintain his fitness, which includes cutting down on meat and sugar.
21. Philanthropy: He donated €1 million to hospitals in Argentina and Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic.
22. Hometown: Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina.
23. Contract Clause: His contract with Barcelona had a clause allowing him to leave for free at the end of each season.
24. Social Media: Messi has one of the most-followed Instagram accounts in the world.
25. First Goal: He scored his first goal for Barcelona against Albacete in May 2005.
26. Record for Most Trophies: Messi has won more trophies with Barcelona than any other player.
27. Friendship: He is close friends with fellow footballer Sergio Agüero.
28. Jersey Number: Messi wears the number 10 jersey for both Barcelona and the Argentina national team.
29. All-Time Scorer: He is Barcelona’s all-time leading goal scorer.
30. World Cup: Messi has played in five FIFA World Cups.
31. Record Transfer Offer: He once rejected a record transfer offer from Manchester City.
32. National Team Struggles: Despite his success, Messi has faced criticism in Argentina for not winning major international trophies until Copa America 2021.
33. Training Dedication: He is known for his exceptional dedication to training and improving his skills.
34. Dribbling Skills: Messi is renowned for his dribbling skills, often considered the best dribbler in the world.
35. Respect for Rivals: He has a respectful relationship with his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
36. Video Game Cover: Messi has been featured on the cover of the FIFA video game series multiple times.
37. Multilingual: Messi speaks Spanish and Catalan, and he has been learning English.
38. Awards: He has won the FIFA World Player of the Year award multiple times.
39. Mentorship: Messi looks up to Diego Maradona as a mentor and inspiration.
40. Sponsorships: He has lucrative endorsement deals with brands like Adidas, Pepsi, and Gatorade.
41. Record Fee: Messi’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 involved a record-breaking contract.
42. Leadership: He has captained both Barcelona and the Argentina national team.
43. Record for Most Goals in El Clasico: Messi is the all-time top scorer in El Clasico, the match between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
44. Injury Struggles: Early in his career, Messi faced several injuries but overcame them through rigorous training.
45. Youth Team: He started playing football at the age of 5 for a local club called Grandoli.
46. Influence: Messi has a significant influence on the younger generation of footballers.
47. Pace: Despite his age, Messi still possesses remarkable pace and agility.
48. Left-Footed: Messi is predominantly left-footed, known for his incredible control and accuracy with his left foot.
49. Book: There are several books written about Messi’s life and career.
50. Quotes: Messi is known for his humility and has been quoted saying, “I prefer to win titles with the team ahead of individual awards or scoring more goals than anyone else. I’m more concerned with being a good person than being the best footballer in the world.”