A look at Lionel Messi’s glittering career, laced with records and awards in club and international football.
The list reads 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and now 2023.
Lionel Messi has won the men’s Ballon d’Or for a record-extending eighth time after fulfilling his life’s ambition by leading Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar last year.
The 36-year-old is no stranger to the sport’s biggest awards and titles. Here’s a look at the list of honours the Argentine great has to his name:
Messi began his career with FC Barcelona and stayed at the Spanish club until joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021.
After a troubled two-year stint at the French club, he signed for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami in June.
Messi was part of the Inter Miami team that won the 2023 League Cup and the PSG team that won the 2022-23 French Super Cup. But he etched his legacy in club football during his 21-year association with Barcelona.
Over the course of 778 games with the club, Messi scored 672 goals, ahead of Brazil great Pele, who scored 643 goals while playing for Santos. At Barcelona, Messi leads Cesar Rodriguez, who scored 446 goals for the Spanish giants.
LIONEL MESSI IS THE 2023 MEN’S BALLON D’OR!
Eight Ballon d’Or for Argentina hero! 🖐🤟#ballondor pic.twitter.com/1slOJ6EoKj
— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@ballondor) October 30, 2023
Messi made his debut for Argentina in 2005 and finally lifted the World Cup title 18 years later.
The talismanic captain has played 178 matches and scored a record 106 goals, 13 of which have been at the World Cup since 2006.
Although a leading player for Argentina, Messi is surpassed by Ronaldo in records for a national team, with 127 goals and 203 matches played.
In Argentina, Messi is followed by Gabriel Batistuta, who scored 56 goals for the Albiceleste. In South America, he leads with 106 goals – the most by any player on the continent.
Here’s what Messi’s achievements with Argentina look like:
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