Биография Лионелля Месси на англ.

Lionel Messi, whose full name is Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini, was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi began playing football at a young age, showcasing his exceptional skills and talent.

Messi's journey to professional football started when he joined the youth team of Newell's Old Boys, a club based in his hometown of Rosario. However, at the age of 13, Messi moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he joined the famed La Masia youth academy. Barcelona agreed to cover his medical expenses after Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, a condition that could have potentially hindered his career.

Messi made his first-team debut for FC Barcelona in 2004, at the age of 17. Over the next 17 years, he would go on to become the club's all-time top scorer and a key figure in their success. During his time at Barcelona, Messi won numerous domestic and international trophies, including multiple La Liga titles, Copa del Rey trophies, and UEFA Champions League titles. Individually, he won the prestigious Ballon d'Or award multiple times, cementing his status as one of the best players in the world.

In addition to his club achievements, Messi had a successful international career with the Argentine national team. Although he initially faced criticism for not winning major international titles, Messi helped Argentina secure a Copa América title in 2021, which was a significant achievement in his career.

In August 2021, Messi made a high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after his contract with Barcelona ended. This marked the end of an era at Barcelona, where Messi had spent his entire professional career up until that point.

Throughout his career, Messi has been known for his incredible dribbling skills, vision, playmaking abilities, and goal-scoring consistency. His rivalry with Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the defining features of football in the 21st century.

Messi's influence goes beyond the pitch, as he is involved in various charitable efforts, including his own foundation, the Leo Messi Foundation, which focuses on providing healthcare and education to vulnerable children around the world.

Despite his extraordinary success, Messi remains a humble and grounded individual, admired not only for his footballing talent but also for his sportsmanship and dedication to the game.