15 Astounding Facts About Lionel Messi That Show Why He Is The GOAT

Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time, and a global icon of the sport. The Argentine superstar has won countless trophies, awards, and accolades throughout his illustrious career, and has broken many records along the way. He is also a humble, generous, and family-oriented person, who inspires millions of fans around the world.

How much do you really know about Lionel Messi, the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of football?

Here are 15 shocking facts about Lionel Messi that you may not know, or have forgotten, about the legend.

1. 1. 1. He was born with a growth hormone deficiency. Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency when he was 11 years old, which affected his height and development. He had to take daily injections and medication to treat his condition, which was very expensive and not covered by his health insurance. His first club, Newell’s Old Boys, agreed to pay for his treatment, but later reneged on their promise. His second club, River Plate, also showed interest in him, but could not afford his medical bills. It was only when Barcelona scouted him and offered to pay for his treatment that Messi moved to Spain and joined their youth academy.
      2. He made his debut for Barcelona at the age of 17. Messi made his first appearance for Barcelona’s senior team on October 16, 2004, against Espanyol, becoming the youngest player to ever play in La Liga at the time. He came on as a substitute in the 82nd minute, and wore the number 30 shirt. He impressed his coach, Frank Rijkaard, and his teammates, who praised his talent and potential. He scored his first goal for Barcelona on May 1, 2005, against Albacete, becoming the youngest scorer in the club’s history at the time. He was assisted by his idol, Ronaldinho, who lifted him up and celebrated with him.
      3. He has a record-breaking six Ballon d’Or awards. Messi has won the Ballon d’Or, the most prestigious individual award in football, six times, more than any other player in history. He won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009, after leading Barcelona to a historic treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League. He won it again in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2019, breaking the tie with his rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has five Ballon d’Or awards. He also won the FIFA World Player of the Year, the FIFA Best Men’s Player, the European Golden Shoe, and the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year awards multiple times.
      4. He is the all-time top scorer of Barcelona and La Liga. Messi has scored 672 goals for Barcelona in 778 appearances, making him the all-time top scorer of the club and the most prolific player in its history. He has also scored 474 goals in 520 La Liga matches, making him the all-time top scorer of the Spanish league and the most prolific player in its history. He has scored more than 50 goals in 10 seasons, and more than 40 goals in 12 seasons, with Barcelona. He has also scored more than 30 goals in 13 consecutive seasons, with Barcelona.
      5. He has won 34 major trophies with Barcelona. Messi has helped Barcelona win 34 major trophies, more than any other player in the club’s history. He has won 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, four Champions League titles, three Club World Cup titles, three European Super Cup titles, and seven Spanish Super Cup titles with Barcelona. He has also been the top scorer and the best player in many of these competitions, and has scored in the finals of the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
      6. He is the captain and the all-time top scorer of Argentina. Messi is the captain and the all-time top scorer of Argentina, his national team. He has scored 71 goals in 142 appearances for Argentina, making him the most prolific player in its history. He has represented Argentina in six Copa America tournaments and four World Cup tournaments, and has scored in every one of them. He has also led Argentina to three Copa America finals and one World Cup final, but has not won any major trophy with his country. He has, however, won the Olympic gold medal in 2008 and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005 with Argentina.
      7. He has a lifelong contract with Barcelona. Messi has a lifelong contract with Barcelona, which means he can stay at the club as long as he wants, and leave whenever he wants. He signed this contract in 2017, after months of speculation and rumors about his future. The contract has a release clause of €700 million, which makes him virtually impossible to buy by any other club. The contract also has a loyalty bonus of €70 million, which Messi will receive if he stays at Barcelona until the end of his contract in 2021.

         

         Also Read: 15 Astounding Facts About Cristiano Ronaldo You Need to Know

      8. He has a record-breaking 91 goals in a calendar year. Messi has a record-breaking 91 goals in a calendar year, which he achieved in 2012. He scored 79 goals for Barcelona and 12 goals for Argentina, in 69 matches, breaking the previous record of 85 goals set by German legend Gerd Muller in 1972. He scored his 86th goal on December 9, 2012, against Real Betis, and his 91st goal on December 22, 2012, against Valladolid. He averaged 1.32 goals per game, and scored in 60 of the 69 matches he played in 2012.
      9. He has a tattoo of his son’s name and handprints on his left leg. Messi has a tattoo of his son’s name and handprints on his left leg, which he got in 2013, after the birth of his first child, Thiago. He also has the name of his second son, Mateo, tattooed on his right arm, and the name of his third son, Ciro, tattooed on his left arm. He has a tattoo of his wife’s lips on his lower abdomen, and a tattoo of Jesus on his right arm. He also has a tattoo of a football and the number 10 on his left calf, and a tattoo of a lotus flower and a sword on his right leg.
      10. He is a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and a philanthropist. Messi is a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and a philanthropist, who supports various causes and charities. He has donated millions of dollars to help children, education, health, and sports projects around the world. He has also supported organizations that fight against poverty, hunger, AIDS, cancer, and violence. He has his own foundation, the Leo Messi Foundation, which he founded in 2007, to help children and youth in need. He has been named as one of the most charitable athletes in the world by various media outlets.
      11. He is the most followed person on Facebook. Messi is not only a football star, but also a social media star. He is the most followed person on Facebook, with 200 million followers. He is also the most followed athlete on Instagram, with 234 million followers, and on Twitter, with 43 million followers. He earns millions of dollars from his social media posts, and has endorsement deals with brands such as Adidas, Pepsi, Huawei, and Mastercard.
      12. He has a wax statue at Madame Tussauds. Messi has a wax statue at Madame Tussauds, the famous wax museum in London. The statue was unveiled in 2013, and depicts Messi in his Barcelona kit, celebrating a goal. The statue is part of the museum’s sports zone, where it stands alongside other football legends, such as Pele, David Beckham, and Cristiano Ronaldo. The statue is also one of the most popular attractions in the museum, and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
      13. He has a theme park named after him. Messi has a theme park named after him, which is called Messi Experience Park. The park is located in Nanjing, China, and opened in 2019. The park is dedicated to Messi and his football career, and features various attractions, such as interactive games, simulations, holograms, and virtual reality. The park also showcases Messi’s trophies, awards, and memorabilia, and aims to inspire and educate visitors about his life and achievements.
      14. He has a species of ant named after him. Messi has a species of ant named after him, which is called Strumigenys messi. The ant was discovered in 2016, by a team of scientists from Argentina and Germany, in the Chaco region of Argentina. The ant is very small, measuring only 1.5 millimeters in length, and has a distinctive red head and black body. The scientists named the ant after Messi, because they are fans of his, and because they wanted to honor his contribution to Argentina and the world.
      15. He has a golden left foot worth $5.25 million. Messi has a golden left foot worth $5.25 million, which was created by a Japanese jeweler in 2013, to commemorate his fourth Ballon d’Or win. The foot is made of pure gold and weighs 25 kilograms. It is a replica of Messi’s left foot, which is considered to be his magic foot, and the source of his incredible skills and goals. The foot was put on display in Tokyo, and later auctioned for charity.