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2024-11-02 13:46:57

Lionel Messi

Argentine professional footballer for Inter Miami and Argentina national team
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Argentine professional footballer for Inter Miami and Argentina national team

Lionel Messi, born in 1987, is a highly decorated footballer with numerous awards and records. He played for Barcelona for most of his career, winning multiple trophies. Messi also achieved success with the Argentina national team, winning the Copa América and FIFA World Cup. Known for his goal-scoring prowess and playmaking abilities, Messi has broken numerous records in La Liga and international competitions. He has been recognized with multiple Ballon d'Or awards and has been a prominent figure in the world of sports, earning various accolades and endorsements.

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1987-06-24
Birth of Lionel Messi
Birth of Lionel Messi

Lionel Andrés Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, was born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. He developed a passion for football from an early age, playing for local clubs and showing exceptional talent.

1994-03-30
Joining Newell's Old Boys, the first team in his life
Joining Newell's Old Boys, the first team in his life

At the age of six, Messi joined the Rosario club, Newell's Old Boys, where he played for six years and scored almost 500 goals as a member of 'The Machine of '87'.

2000-12-14
Messi's first contract with Barcelona
Messi's first contract with Barcelona

On 14 December, an ultimatum was issued for Barcelona to prove their commitment to signing Lionel Messi. In response, Carles Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered a contract on a paper napkin, marking the beginning of Messi's official association with the club.

2001-02
Messi and Family Moves to Barcelona

In February 2001, Messi and his family relocated to Barcelona, Spain, and he enrolled in Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia.

2002-02-02
Enrollment at Royal Spanish Football Federation, RFEF

Messi was enrolled in the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after a year at Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia.

2003-11-16
Messi's first team debut against FC Porto
Messi's first team debut against FC Porto

On 16 November 2003, Lionel Messi made his first team debut for Barcelona as a 75th-minute substitute during a friendly against Porto. His impressive performance led to daily training with the club's reserve side and weekly training with the first team.

2004-02-04
Messi's first professional contract

On 4 February 2004, Lionel Messi signed his first professional contract with Barcelona, which contained an initial buyout clause of €30 million. This marked an important milestone in his career as a professional footballer.

2004-10-16
Lionel Messi's Senior Team Debut

At 17 years, three months, and 22 days, Lionel Messi made his senior team debut in a LaLiga game against Espanyol on October 16, 2004, becoming the youngest player to represent Barcelona in an official competition.

2004-12-07
Lionel Messi's UEFA Champions League Debut

On December 7, 2004, at the age of 17 years, 5 months, and 14 days, Lionel Messi made his UEFA Champions League debut.

2005-05-01
Messi's First Goal for Barcelona

On May 1, 2005, Lionel Messi scored his first goal for Barcelona against Albacete, with an assist from Ronaldinho. This marked him as the youngest ever goalscorer for the club at that time.

2005-05-17
Lionel Messi's UEFA Champions League Win

At 17 years, 10 months, and 24 days, Lionel Messi achieved his first UEFA Champions League win on May 17, 2005.

2005-06-24
Signing senior contract

On June 24, 2005, his 18th birthday, Messi signed his first contract as a senior team player with Barcelona, increasing his buyout clause to €150 million.

2005-08-17
Messi's Senior Debut for Argentina

Messi made his senior debut for Argentina in a friendly against Hungary at the Ferenc Puskás Stadium. He was sent off after two minutes for a perceived foul, which was a contentious decision.

2005-09-26
Acquisition of Spanish Citizenship

Messi acquired Spanish citizenship on 26 September 2005, making him eligible to play for Barcelona in the La Liga.

2005-11-02
Messi's First Champions League Goal

Messi scored his first Champions League goal in his 4th appearance, against Panathinaikos in a 5-0 win at Camp Nou.

2006-03-01
Messi's First Goal in a Friendly Against Croatia

Messi scored his first goal in a friendly against Croatia, ahead of Argentina's participation in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

2006-03-07
Torn Hamstring Against Chelsea

Messi suffered a torn hamstring against Chelsea on 7 March 2006, ruling him out of the Champions League final on that day.

2006-05-17
Messi's First Champions League Trophy

Messi won his first Champions League trophy at the age of 18. He played 6 games, having 1 goal and 1 assist, but didn't play in the final due to an injury.

2006-11-12
Metatarsal Fracture

Messi sustained a metatarsal fracture on 12 November 2006, which led to a three-month injury period.

2007-03-10
Messi's First Hat-trick in El Clasico

On March 10, in El Clasico against Real Madrid, Messi scored his first hat-trick in a 3-3 draw, becoming the first player to achieve this feat in El Clasico since Ivan Zamorano in the 94–95 season.

2007-04-18
Goal Remarkably Similar to Maradona's Goal of the Century

During a Copa del Rey semi-final against Getafe on 18 April 2007, Messi scored a goal remarkably similar to Maradona's Goal of the Century.

2007-04-19
Messi's Solo Goal vs Getafe

During a Copa del Rey semi-final against Getafe on 18 April, Messi scored one of the best goals in football history, collecting the ball on the right side near the halfway line, running 60 meters, and beating five defenders before scoring with an angled finish.

2007-06-09
Hand Goal Similar to Maradona's Hand of God

Against Espanyol on 9 June 2007, Messi scored with his hand in a similar fashion to Maradona's Hand of God goal.

2008-05-27
First Treble by a Spanish Team

On 27 May 2008, Barcelona won the first treble by a Spanish team, with Messi scoring once in the final against Manchester United.

2009-03-28
Wearing Argentina's Number 10 Shirt
Wearing Argentina's Number 10 Shirt

On March 28, 2009, Messi wore Argentina's number 10 shirt for the first time, following the international retirement of Riquelme.

2009-05-28
Messi wins the 2009 UEFA Champions League with Barcelona

Barcelona, with Messi as a key player, won the 2009 UEFA Champions League by defeating Manchester United 2-0, with Messi scoring the final goal.

2009-09-18
New Contract with Increased Salary

On 18 September 2009, Messi signed a new contract which increased his salary to €12 million and committed him to the club through 2016.

2009-12-01
First Ballon d'Or and FIFA Award for Best Player of the Year
First Ballon d'Or and FIFA Award for Best Player of the Year

At the age of 22, Messi won his first Ballon d’Or and FIFA Award for Best Player of the Year with the largest voting margin in the history of each trophy at that time.

2009-12-19
Winning Goal in FIFA Club World Cup

At 22 years old, Messi scored the winning goal to claim the FIFA Club World Cup on 19 December 2009.

2010-04-06
All Four Goals in Champions League Quarter-final

Messi became Barcelona's all-time Champions League top scorer by scoring all four of his side's goals in the quarter-final against Arsenal on 6 April 2010.

2010-05-01
First Golden Shoe

Messi won his first Golden Shoe as the top scorer of season 2009/10 with 34 goals. He helped Barcelona win La Liga trophy for the second year in a row, with just one loss.

2010-06-12
Argentina's 1-0 win against Nigeria at the World Cup

Argentina won 1-0 against Nigeria at the World Cup in South Africa, with Messi making at least four attempts on goal but being repeatedly denied by Nigeria's goalkeeper.

2010-06-17
Argentina's 4-1 victory against South Korea at the World Cup

Argentina secured a 4-1 victory against South Korea at the World Cup, with Messi excelling in his playmaking role and participating in all four goals of his side's victory.

2010-06-22
Argentina's 2-0 win against Greece at the World Cup

Argentina won 2-0 against Greece at the World Cup, with Messi wearing the captain's armband for the first time and helping create their second goal to see Argentina finish as group winners.

2010-07-03
Argentina's elimination in the quarter-final against Germany at the World Cup

Argentina was eliminated in the quarter-final against Germany at the World Cup in South Africa, with a 4–0 loss, their worst margin of defeat at a World Cup since 1974.

2010-08-14
Messi's Hat-trick Secures Supercopa de España

Messi scored a hat-trick in Barcelona's 4–0 victory over Sevilla, securing the Supercopa de España for his team.

2010-11-29
Barcelona Defeats Rivals 5–0 in Clásico

Barcelona defeated their rivals 5–0 with Messi playing an instrumental role in the match.

2011-02-05
Barcelona Achieves 16 Consecutive League Victories

Messi helped Barcelona achieve a record in Spanish football with 16 consecutive league victories, concluding with a hat-trick against Atlético Madrid.

2011-05-28
Messi Scores Match-Winning Goal in Champions League Final

Messi scored the match-winning goal in Barcelona's 3–1 victory against Manchester United in the Champions League final, becoming the competition's top scorer for the third consecutive year.

2011-07-01
Alejandro Sabella awards Messi the captaincy of the Argentina squad

Alejandro Sabella awarded the 24-year-old Messi the captaincy of the Argentina squad, leading to an improvement in Messi's goal-scoring rate and his relationship with his compatriots.

2011-12-18
Messi Scores Twice in FIFA Club World Cup Final

Messi scored twice in the FIFA Club World Cup final, contributing to Barcelona's 4–0 victory over Santos.

2012-01-10
Messi’s Third Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi received his third consecutive Ballon d’Or on January 10, 2011.

2012-03-07
Messi's Five Goals in a Champions League Game

On 7 March 2012, Lionel Messi scored five goals in a single Champions League last 16-round game against Bayer Leverkusen, making it an unprecedented achievement in the history of the competition at that time.

2012-03-20
Messi Becomes Barcelona's All-time Top Scorer

On 20 March 2012, at 24 years old, Lionel Messi became the top goalscorer in Barcelona's history by overtaking the 57-year record of Cesar Rodriguez's 232 goals with a hat-trick against Granada.

2012-05-05
Messi Scores All Four Goals in Barcelona's Last Home League Match

Messi scored all four goals in Barcelona's last home league match before embracing Guardiola, who had announced his resignation as manager.

2013-01-07
Lionel Messi Wins Fourth Ballon d'Or

On 7 January 2013, Lionel Messi became the first and only player in football history to win the Ballon d'Or four times in a row, easily outpacing Cristiano Ronaldo and teammate Andres Iniesta in voting.

2013-02-07
Messi Signs New Contract with Barcelona

Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona, committing himself to the club through 2018 with annual wages of €13 million.

2013-03-17
Messi Wears Captain's Armband for the First Time

Messi wore the captain's armband for the first time in a league match against Rayo Vallecano.

2013-05-12
End of Goalscoring Streak and Record-Breaking Achievements

Messi sustained a hamstring injury on 12 May, ending his 21 consecutive league games goalscoring streak, during which he netted 33 goals. He also became the first player to score consecutively against all 19 opposition teams in La Liga, and finished the campaign as the league top scorer in Spain and Europe for the second consecutive year, winning the European Golden Shoe three times.

2013-09-10
Argentina secures their place in the 2014 World Cup with a 5–2 victory over Paraguay

Argentina secured their place in the 2014 World Cup with a 5–2 victory over Paraguay, with Messi scoring twice from penalty kicks, taking his international tally to 37 goals to become Argentina's second-highest goalscorer behind Batistuta.

2013-11-10
Fifth Injury of 2013

Messi tore his hamstring on 10 November, marking his fifth injury of 2013 and leaving him sidelined for two months.

2014-05-19
New Contract with Increased Salary

Messi signed a new contract on 19 May 2014, with his salary increased to €20 million, or €36 million before taxes, making it the highest wage in the sport.

2014-06-15
Argentina's 2-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup

In his first World Cup match as captain, Messi led Argentina to a 2–1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, helping create a goal and scoring their second strike.

2014-07-13
FIFA World Cup 2014 Lost Final

Substitute Mario Götze scored in the 113th minute and Germany won the game 1-0 to win the FIFA World Cup. At the conclusion of the final, Messi was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player with 4 goals and 1 assist.

2014-07-14
Argentina Faces Defeat

Argentina was defeated by Germany in the 2014 World Cup finals, with Germany clinching a 1-0 victory.

2014-11-22
Becoming All-Time Top Scorer in La Liga

Messi scored a hat-trick against Sevilla on 22 November, making him the all-time top scorer in La Liga by surpassing the 59-year record of 251 league goals held by Telmo Zarra.

2015-05-17
Securing La Liga Title

Messi scored in a 1–0 away win over Atlético Madrid on 17 May, securing the La Liga title for Barcelona.

2015-06-06
Winning Second Treble

Barcelona defeated Juventus 3–1 to win their second treble, with Messi finishing the competition as the joint top scorer and receiving the UEFA Best Player in Europe award for a second time.

2015-07-05
Argentina Loses Copa America 2015

Argentina lost the Copa America 2015 to Chile in a penalty shootout, with Chile defeating Argentina 4-1.

2015-08-11
UEFA Super Cup Victory

Messi scored twice from free kicks in Barcelona's 5–4 victory over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup, marking the opening of the 2015–16 season.

2015-12-20
2015 FIFA Club World Cup Final

Messi won the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup final, collecting his fifth club trophy of 2015 as Barcelona defeated River Plate 3–0 in Yokohama.

2016-01-12
Messi’s Fifth Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi received his fifth Ballon d’Or award.

2016-02-03
Hat-trick in Copa del Rey

Messi scored a hat-trick in Barcelona's 7–0 win against Valencia in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at the Camp Nou on February 3, 2016.

2016-04-17
500th Senior Career Goal

Messi scored his 500th senior career goal for club and country in Barcelona's 2–1 home loss to Valencia on April 17, 2016.

2016-05-22
2016 Copa del Rey Final

Messi finished the 2015–16 season by setting up both goals in Barcelona's 2–0 extra time win over Sevilla in the 2016 Copa del Rey final, at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, on May 22, 2016.

2016-06-07
Donation to Médecins Sans Frontières

On June 7, 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.

2016-06-26
Lionel Messi's Record-breaking Goal at Copa America 2016

During the quarter-final match against Venezuela at Copa America 2016, Lionel Messi assisted two goals and scored another, equaling the 54-goal record held by Gabriel Batistuta. This record was then broken three days later, when Messi scored a free-kick in a 4-0 win against USA in the semifinals.

2016-08-12
Return from International Retirement

On August 12, 2016, Messi reversed his decision to retire from international football and was included in the squad for the national team's upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

2016-08-14
2016 Supercopa de España Win

Messi lifted the 2016 Supercopa de España as Barcelona's captain in the absence of the injured Andrés Iniesta, setting up Munir's goal in a 2–0 away win over Sevilla in the first leg on August 14, 2016.

2016-09-13
Hat-trick in UEFA Champions League

Messi scored his first hat-trick of the season in the opening game of the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League campaign against Celtic in a 7–0 victory on September 13, 2016.

2016-11-01
54th Champions League Group Stage Goal

Messi scored his 54th Champions League group stage goal in Barcelona's 3–1 away loss to Manchester City on November 1, 2016.

2017-03-28
Messi's Suspension and Fine

Messi was suspended for four international games and fined CHF 10,000 for insulting an assistant referee in a game against Chile. The suspension was later lifted by FIFA after Argentina Football Association appealed against it.

2017-04-23
500 goals with Barcelona

On April 23, 2017, Lionel Messi scored his 500th goal for Barcelona in a 3-2 win over Real Madrid. His decisive goal in overtime secured the victory, and he celebrated by displaying his jersey to the fans at Santiago Bernabeu.

2017-05-27
2017 Copa del Rey Final

Messi scored a goal and set up another for Paco Alcácer in the 2017 Copa del Rey final, helping Barcelona to a 3–1 victory over Alavés on May 27, 2017, and was named Man of the Match.

2017-08-13
2017 Supercopa de España Penalty

Messi opened the 2017–18 season by converting a penalty in Barcelona's 1–3 first leg home defeat to Real Madrid in Supercopa de España on August 13, 2017.

2017-09-09
Messi's First Hat-trick of 2017-18 League Campaign

On 9 September, Messi scored his first hat-trick of the 2017–18 league campaign, against Espanyol in Derbi barceloní, thus helping to secure a 5–0 home victory for Blaugrana over local rivals.

2017-09-12
Messi's Goals Against Juventus in UEFA Champions League

On 12 September, Messi netted twice against Gianluigi Buffon, as Barça defeated the last season's Italian champions Juventus 3–0 at home in the UEFA Champions League.

2017-09-19
Messi's Four Goals Against Eibar in La Liga

On 19 September, Messi found the net four times in a 6–1 trashing of Eibar at the Camp Nou in La Liga.

2017-10-01
Messi Surpasses Carles Puyol's Appearance Record

Three weeks later, on 1 October, Messi surpassed his former teammate Carles Puyol to become the third highest appearance maker in the club's history, as he helped Barça defeat Las Palmas 3–0.

2017-10-10
Messi Leads Argentina to World Cup Qualification

Messi scored a hat-trick as Argentina came from behind to defeat Ecuador 3–1 away, securing their World Cup qualification and becoming the joint all-time leading scorer in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.

2017-10-18
Messi's 100th UEFA Club Competition Goal

On 18 October, in his 122nd European club appearance, Messi scored his 97th UEFA Champions League goal, and his 100th in all UEFA club competitions, in a 3–1 home victory over Olympiacos.

2017-11-04
Messi's 600th Appearance for Barcelona

On 4 November, he made his 600th appearance for Barcelona in a 2–1 home win over Sevilla in La Liga.

2017-11-25
Messi Signs New Deal with Barcelona

Following the reception of his fourth Golden Boot, Messi signed a new deal with Barcelona on 25 November, keeping him with the club through the 2020–21 season. His buyout clause was set at €700 million.

2018-01-07
Messi's 400th La Liga Appearance and Record Equaling Goal

On 7 January 2018, Messi made his 400th La Liga appearance with Barcelona in a 3–0 home win over Levante, marking the occasion with his 144th league assist and 365th league goal for the club, the latter of which saw him equal Gerd Müller's record for the most league goals scored for the same club in one of Europe's top five divisions.

2018-03-04
Messi's 600th Senior Career Goal

On 4 March, he scored his 600th senior career goal from a free kick in a 1–0 home win over Atlético Madrid, in La Liga.

2018-03-14
Messi's 100th Champions League Goal

On 14 March, Messi scored his 99th and 100th Champions League goals in a 3–0 home win over Chelsea, becoming only the second player after Cristiano Ronaldo to reach this landmark, in fewer appearances, at a younger age and having taken fewer shots than his Portuguese counterpart.

2018-04-21
Messi's 40th Goal of the Season in Copa del Rey Final

On 21 April, Messi scored Barcelona's second goal – his 40th of the season – in a 5–0 win over Sevilla in the 2018 Copa del Rey final, later also setting up Suárez's second goal; this was Barcelona's fourth consecutive title and their 30th overall.

2018-04-29
Messi's Hat-trick in a 4–2 Away Win Over Deportivo de La Coruña

On 29 April, Messi scored a hat-trick in a 4–2 away win over Deportivo de La Coruña, which saw Barcelona claim their 25th league title.

2018-05-09
Messi's Goal in Barcelona's Longest Unbeaten Streak in La Liga

On 9 May, Messi scored as Barcelona defeated Villarreal 5–1 to set the longest unbeaten streak (43 games) in La Liga history.

2018-08-12
Barcelona's Supercopa de España Victory

On 12 August 2018, Lionel Messi lifted his first title as Barcelona's captain, the Supercopa de España, following a 2–1 victory over Sevilla.

2018-08-19
Messi's Record-Breaking Goal in La Liga

On 19 August 2018, Lionel Messi scored his 6000th goal for Barcelona in La Liga, helping them defeat Alavés 3–0 in their first match of the season.

2018-09-18
Messi's Hat-Trick in Champions League

On 18 September 2018, Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 home win over PSV Eindhoven, setting a new record for most hat-tricks in the Champions League.

2018-10-20
Messi's Injury and Fractured Arm

On 20 October 2018, Lionel Messi scored in a match against Sevilla but was later forced off due to a fractured radial bone, ruling him out for approximately three weeks.

2018-12-08
Messi's Free Kick Record in La Liga

On 8 December 2018, Lionel Messi scored two free kicks in a 4–0 away win over Espanyol, marking the first time he had managed such a feat in the league.

2019-01-13
Messi's 400th La Liga Goal

On 13 January 2019, Lionel Messi scored his 400th La Liga goal in a 3–0 home win over Eibar, becoming the first player ever to achieve this tally in just one of Europe's top five leagues.

2019-04-16
Messi's Goals in Champions League Quarter-Finals

On 16 April 2019, Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3–0 home victory over Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-finals, helping Barcelona progress to the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since 2015.

2019-04-27
Messi's 450th La Liga Appearance and League Title

On 27 April 2019, Lionel Messi scored the only goal in a 1–0 home win over Levante, allowing Barcelona to clinch the league title. This was his 450th La Liga appearance and his first league title as Barcelona's captain.

2019-05-01
Messi's 600th Senior Club Goal

On 1 May 2019, Lionel Messi scored his 600th senior club goal with Barcelona in a 3–0 home win over Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

2019-05-19
Messi's Pichichi Trophy and Golden Shoe Award

On 19 May 2019, Lionel Messi scored twice in a 2–2 away draw against Eibar, capturing his sixth Pichichi Trophy as the league's top scorer and his sixth Golden Shoe award.

2019-05-25
Messi's Final Goal of the Season

On 25 May 2019, Lionel Messi scored his final goal of the season in a 2–1 defeat to Valencia in the 2019 Copa del Rey final.

2019-06-06
Messi's Performance in the Copa América

Messi scored the equalising goal from the penalty spot in a match against Paraguay and helped Argentina win the bronze medal in the Copa América. However, he was also involved in a controversial altercation and faced a suspension.

2019-08-05
Messi's Right Calf Injury

On 5 August 2019, it was announced that Lionel Messi would miss Barcelona's US tour after sustaining a right calf injury.

2019-08-19
Messi's Nominated Goal for FIFA Puskás Award

On 19 August 2019, Lionel Messi's chipped goal from the edge of the box against Real Betis was nominated for the 2019 FIFA Puskás Award.

2019-09-23
Messi Winning the 2019 Best FIFA Men's Player Award

On 23 September 2019, Lionel Messi won the 2019 Best FIFA Men's Player Award.

2019-10-06
Messi's 420th Goal in La Liga

On 6 October, Messi scored his first goal of the season with a free kick in a 4–0 home win over Sevilla, marking his 420th goal in La Liga and breaking Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 419 goals scored in Europe's top five leagues.

2019-10-23
Messi's Champions League Record

On 23 October, Messi scored his first Champions League goal of the season in a 2–1 away win over Slavia Prague, becoming the first player to score in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons and equalled the record for the most sides scored against in the competition.

2019-10-29
Messi's 50th Free-Kick Goal

On 29 October, Messi scored in a 5–1 home win over Real Valladolid in La Liga; his first goal – a set piece from 35 yards – was the 50th free-kick of his career, overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo's senior goal tally at club level.

2019-11-09
Messi's Hat-Trick Record

On 9 November, Messi scored three goals (including two free kicks) in a 4–1 home win against Celta Vigo, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's Spanish top-flight record for hat-tricks in La Liga.

2019-11-27
Messi's 700th Appearance for Barcelona

On 27 November, in what was his 700th appearance for Barcelona, Messi scored one goal and assisted two more in a 3–1 home win over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, breaking the record for the most teams scored against in the competition.

2019-12-02
6th Ballon d'Or

Leo Messi won the Ballon d’Or for the sixth time, setting a new record in the history of the competition. He outperformed top contenders Van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo, securing the most prestigious individual football trophy. Messi's exceptional performance included 50 goals and 18 assists in 59 games.

2019-12-08
Messi's 35th Hat-Trick in La Liga

On 8 December, Messi scored his record-breaking 35th hat-trick in La Liga with three goals in Barcelona's 5–2 home win over Mallorca.

2020-01-17
Messi sent off for the first time in his club career

On 17 January 2021, Messi was shown a red card for violent conduct in the final minutes of Barcelona's 2–3 extra time defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the 2020–21 Supercopa de España Final.

2020-02-22
Messi's Four Goals Against Eibar

On 22 February 2020, Messi scored four goals in a 5–0 home win over Eibar in La Liga.

2020-06-14
Messi's Scoring Record in La Liga

On 14 June, Messi scored in a 4–0 away win against Mallorca, becoming the first player ever in La Liga to score 20 goals or more in 12 consecutive seasons.

2020-08-09
Messi's 700th Goal in His Senior Career

On 9 August, in the Champions League round of 16 second leg versus Napoli at the Camp Nou, Messi scored the second goal and earned a penalty which led to a third goal, marking his 700th goal in his senior career for Barcelona and Argentina.

2020-08-25
Messi's Desire to Leave Barcelona

On 25 August 2020, Messi expressed his desire to leave Barcelona due to growing dissatisfaction with the club's direction on and off the field.

2020-08-30
La Liga's Statement on Messi's Contract

On 30 August, La Liga issued a statement stating Messi's contract and buyout clause were still active.

2020-09-18
Messi called up to Argentina squad

On 18 September 2020, Messi was called up to the Argentina squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia in October.

2020-09-27
Messi's Penalty Goal in 2020–21 Season

On 27 September, Messi began the 2020–21 season by scoring a penalty in a 4–0 home win against Villarreal in La Liga.

2020-09-29
Messi Outshines Cristiano Ronaldo as the Most Marketable Athlete

Lionel Messi was declared the Most Marketable Athlete of 2020, surpassing his rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

2020-10-08
Messi's Goal in World Cup Qualifying Campaign

Messi scored a penalty in a 1–0 victory against Ecuador, giving Argentina a winning start to their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

2020-10-20
Messi scores in sixteen consecutive Champions League seasons

On 20 October 2020, Messi scored a penalty in a 5–1 home victory against Ferencváros in the Champions League, becoming the first player in history to score in sixteen consecutive Champions League seasons.

2020-11-29
Messi's Tribute to Diego Maradona

On 29 November, Messi scored his side's fourth goal in their 4–0 victory over Osasuna, and unveiled a shirt of his former side Newell's Old Boys in tribute to Argentine compatriot Diego Maradona, who had died four days earlier.

2020-12-17
Messi finishes third in The Best FIFA Men's Player award

On 17 December 2020, Messi finished third in The Best FIFA Men's Player award behind Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo and was included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI for the fourteenth consecutive year.

2020-12-22
Top Goalscorer with a Single Club

Messi surpassed Brazilian legend Pele's record for the most goals with a single club by scoring his 644th goal in all competitions for Barcelona. This achievement broke Pele's 46-year-old record of 643 goals with Santos in his native country.

2021-01-17
Messi sent off for the first time in his club career

On 17 January 2021, Messi was sent off for the first time in his club career for violent conduct in the final minutes of Barcelona's 2–3 extra-time defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the 2020–21 Supercopa de España Final.

2021-04-17
Messi breaks Gerd Müller's record in Copa del Rey final

On 17 April, Messi scored twice as Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 4–0 in the 2021 Copa del Rey final. With his second goal, he broke Gerd Müller's record of 30 plus goals in 12 consecutive club seasons, setting a new record of 13.

2021-05-16
Messi's final goal and match in a Barcelona shirt

On 16 May, Messi scored his 30th league goal of the campaign in a 1–2 home defeat against Celta Vigo, which later turned out to be his final goal and match in a Barcelona shirt.

2021-06-14
Messi scores from free kick in Copa América

On 14 June 2021, Messi scored from a free kick in a 1–1 draw against Chile in Argentina's opening group match of the 2021 Copa América in Brazil.

2021-06-21
Messi equals Mascherano's appearance record

On 21 June, Messi played in his 147th match as he equalled Javier Mascherano's record for most appearances for Argentina in a 1–0 win over Paraguay in their third game of the tournament.

2021-06-28
Messi breaks Mascherano's appearance record

A week later, he broke the record when he featured in a 4–1 win against Bolivia in his team's final group match, assisting Papu Gómez's opening goal and later scoring two.

2021-07-03
Messi's performance in Copa América quarter-finals

On 3 July, Messi assisted twice and scored from a free-kick in a 3–0 win over Ecuador in the quarter-finals of the competition.

2021-07-06
Messi's 150th appearance and performance in Copa América semi-finals

On 6 July, in a 1–1 draw in the semi-finals against Colombia, Messi made his 150th appearance for his country and registered his fifth assist of the tournament, a cut-back for Lautaro Martínez, matching his record of nine goal contributions in a single tournament from five years earlier; he later scored his spot kick in Argentina's eventual 3–2 penalty shoot-out victory to progress to his fifth international final.

2021-07-10
Top Goalscorer with a Single Club

Messi continued to solidify his legacy by achieving the remarkable feat of scoring 644 goals for a single club, surpassing Pele's previous record. This historic moment occurred during Barcelona's 0-3 victory over Real Valladolid.

2021-08-05
Lionel Messi Leaves Barcelona

On August 5, 2021, at the age of 34 years, 1 month, and 13 days, Lionel Messi left Barcelona.

2021-08-10
Lionel Messi's Transfer to Paris Saint-Germain

Following the expiration of his contract at Barcelona, Lionel Messi completed a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. He chose to wear the number 30, which was the same number he wore on his Barcelona debut in 2003.

2021-09-09
Messi becomes South America's top male international scorer

On 9 September 2021, Messi scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 home win over Bolivia in a 2022 World Cup qualifier which also moved him above Pelé as South America's top male international scorer with 79 goals.

2021-09-28
Messi scores first goal for PSG

On 28 September 2021, Messi scored his first goal for the club, a strike from the edge of the 18-yard box after playing a one-two with Kylian Mbappé, in a 2–0 Champions League group stage win over Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

2021-11-21
Messi scores first Ligue 1 goal

On 21 November 2021, Messi scored his first Ligue 1 goal in a 3–1 home victory over Nantes.

2022-04-23
Messi helps PSG clinch 10th Ligue 1 title

On 23 April, Messi helped PSG clinch their 10th Ligue 1 title after scoring from a strike outside the 18-yard box in a 1–1 draw against Lens at home.

2022-06-01
2022 Finalissima: Argentina vs Italy

Argentina won against Italy with a score of 3-0 in the 2022 Finalissima at Wembley. This final pitted the winner of the European championship against the winner of the Copa America, where Messi was once again decisive, providing two assists and being named player of the match.

2022-06-06
Messi's five goals in friendly win over Estonia

Messi then followed this on 6 June with all five Argentina goals in a 5–0 victory in a friendly win over Estonia, overtaking Ferenc Puskás among the all-time international men's top scorers.

2022-07-31
Scoring PSG's first goal in the Trophée des Champions

Messi scored PSG's first goal in a 4–0 victory over Nantes in the Trophée des Champions, marking his debut for PSG and winning his second trophy with the club.

2022-09-09
Messi becomes South America's top male international scorer

On 9 September, Messi scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 home win over Bolivia in a 2022 World Cup qualifier which also moved him above Pelé as South America's top male international scorer with 79 goals.

2022-10-05
Becoming the only player to score against 40 different Champions League opponents

Messi scored in a 1–1 draw away to Benfica in the Champions League, becoming the only player in the competition's history to score against 40 different Champions League opponents, showcasing his remarkable achievement in the tournament.

2022-12-17
Messi Leads Argentina to World Title

Lionel Messi led Argentina to the world title, a significant achievement in his career, reminiscent of Diego Maradona's feat in 1986.

2023-04-08
Overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo as the all-time highest goalscorer in European club football

Messi scored and provided an assist in a 2–0 away win over Nice in Ligue 1, overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo as the all-time highest goalscorer in European club football, solidifying his status as one of the greatest goal scorers in the sport.

2023-06-03
Final game for PSG against Clermont

Galtier confirmed that PSG's home game against Clermont on 3 June would be Messi's last for the club, marking the end of his successful stint with PSG.

2023-07-15
Lionel Messi signs for Inter Miami

Lionel Messi joined Major League Soccer club Inter Miami after departing from Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent. He inked a two-and-a-half season deal with the option to extend for an additional year in the 2026 season.

2023-07-21
Debut for Inter Miami in Leagues Cup

Messi made his debut for Inter Miami in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul, scoring a free-kick in stoppage time for a 2–1 victory.

2023-08-19
Scoring in 2023 Leagues Cup final

Messi opened the scoring in the 2023 Leagues Cup final against Nashville SC before Nashville equalised in the second half. The game ended in a penalty shoot-out which Miami won, 10–9, with Messi scoring the first, giving the club their first ever trophy.

2023-08-26
MLS Debut and Goal

Messi made his MLS debut on 26 August, coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute, scoring a late goal in a 2–0 away win against New York Red Bulls, which put an end to Inter's eleven-match league winless streak.

2023-10-30
Awarded Eighth Ballon d'Or

Following his World Cup win with Argentina and Ligue 1 trophy with PSG, Messi was awarded a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or.

2024-01-15
Won The Best FIFA Men's Player for a Record Third Time

Messi won The Best FIFA Men's Player for a record third time on 15 January 2024.

End of the Timeline
Lionel Messi
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