Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés Messi born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for La Liga team Barcelona and the Argentine national team. Considered one of the best football players of his generation and frequently cited as the world's best contemporary player. Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21 and won both by the age of 22. His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to football legend Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi his "successor".
Messi began playing football at a young age and his potential was quickly identified by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004–05 season, he broke the La Liga record for the youngest footballer to play a league game, and also the youngest to score a league goal.

Champions League Team of the Tournament: Drogba, Gomez and Messi light up Europe in 2011-12
20/05/2012 01:00
Liverpool ace Suarez: Real Madrid's Ronaldo better than Messi
19/05/2012 19:28
Messi finishes as top-scorer of the 2011-12 Champions League with 14 goals
19/05/2012 14:15
Why Bayern's home form and Gomez's top goal scoring abilities can lead them to win the Champions League
19/05/2012 06:27
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi & the nominees for Goal.com's Liga Goal of the Season
19/05/2012 04:00
Real Madrid star Ronaldo: Messi rivalry makes me better
19/05/2012 01:16
Cristiano Ronaldo: 'I'm better than Messi'
18/05/2012 04:18
'He beat Messi by a landslide' - When Cristiano Ronaldo claimed the Ballon d'Or at Manchester United in 2008
18/05/2012 02:30
Cristiano Ronaldo claims Lionel Messi rivalry improves both players
18/05/2012 02:23
Cristiano Ronaldo says comparing him with Lionel Messi like comparing a "Ferrari with a Porsche"
18/05/2012 02:03
Christiano Ronaldo says comparing him with Lionel Messi like comparing a "Ferrari with a Porsche"
18/05/2012 02:03
Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo - the final Head-To-Head: Barcelona star comes out on top
18/05/2012 01:40
RONALDO: MESSI MAKES ME BETTER
17/05/2012 23:50
Deadly 'Dixie' still leads the way
17/05/2012 23:46
Cristiano Ronaldo: I think I'm better than Messi at the moment
17/05/2012 23:32
More to life than Messi and Ronaldo
17/05/2012 03:53









Visitor's comments
Yes, Lionel Messi proved all the naysayers that he is number one. A thousand kisses and a million hugs for both goals!
Thank you god, what a wonderful way to win a game! I was so worried about the Arsenal game. I guess I should have trusted my all time favorite player in the whole world. Thank you Messi!
bob
Don’t bury Real Madrid yet. There is a long way to go before the league is over. If they can win the Copa del Rey, it will give them a push. They are just seven points behind Barcelona.
smit
It looks like Real and Barca will play each other in the Copa del Rey finals. It will be a chance for Messi to show that he can score in big games. My guess is 4-2 to Barca with Messi nailing two goals.
david
I don’t know about Maradona, but I think the next time Real Madrid and Barca will play It’s going to be Ronaldo’s turn. He will get revenge big time
ana
Will you guys just shut up? Messi is the best player ever! Maradona and Rolando suck! Using your hand to get the world cup is low. Messi would never do something like that.
nik
Give Maradona some respect, amigo. Messi has a long way to go before he will be as good as Maradona. Maradona took the world cup and Messi couldn’t even score one goal.
rojer
I just got back from Spain and I saw Messi play there. He is just awesome! I think there was never a player quite like him and he is so young! He will break all the records and he is not crazy like Maradona.
eitan
You are not a true fan. It is not possible to like both Real Madrid and Barcelona. It is almost like a nationality, it is about loyalty and honor. Ronaldo sucks, his legs turned to jello when he played Messi in the El Classico.
rudi
Can you people stop with all the stupid who is better Ronaldo or Messi wars? They are two great players. I like both of them and that’s it. So cut it out, it is possible to be a fan of both of them.
margaret
My friend, you need to go back to soccer school! There is no way Ronaldo is better. Messi is a team player, if he would play for himself, like Ronaldo does, he would score ten goals in every game. And just to remind you, Messi was chosen as player of the year for the second time in a row.
brad
I think he is definitely one of the best, but it’s hard to know if a part of his success in not related with the fact that he is playing for Barcelona. This is a special team with a lot of talent and you cannot separate his success with that of his team.
bil
There is no question in my mind that Messi is the best player in the world. I say that as someone who has been following professional football for many years.
anni
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Messi’s beautiful goal in the first semi final game against Real Madrid. It was a masterpiece of football.
eve
Yes, it was unbelievable. One of Messi’s and Barcelona’s best performances, they all rose to the occasion brilliantly.
dan
The moment when Messi scored the goal in the finals game was one of the happiest of my life. What a game and what a player!
rozi
Now that the Copa America is over, I can say that I am really disappointed by Messi’s performance. He should have found a way to do more.
bar
Messi is proving again just how good he is. Even if Barcelona will not win the championship this season, Messi is still the best player in Spain and probably in the world.
ilan