43 Interesting Fun Facts about Footballer Lionel Messi

What are some of the interesting, fun facts about footballer Lionel Messi? Messi had a compelling case for winning the first Ballon d'Or of his career with nine goals in 12 Champions League games (including the game-winning goal in the final against Manchester United), 23 goals in 31 league games, and six goals in eight Copa del Rey contests.

The first sextuple in soccer history was ultimately won by Barcelona, who also won the FIFA Club World Cup, La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, and Spanish Super Cup. The greatest, though, was yet to come.

Messi had a remarkable and record-breaking year in 2012. Messi scored a hat trick against Granada to overtake Cesar Rodriguez (232 goals) as Barcelona's all-time greatest scorer after becoming the first player to score five goals in a single Champions League match.

Additionally, he recorded 91 goals in 2012, shattering Gerd Muller's 39-year mark of 85 goals in a calendar year (1972). Muller asserted that he was not at all envious "My record of 85 goals in 60 games remained for 40 years, but the finest player in the world just shattered it, and I'm thrilled for him. He is a tremendous player who is enormous."

Unsurprisingly, Messi won the Ballon d'Or four times in a row during that fantastic year, becoming him the first player in history to accomplish this feat.

While Messi received praise for his outstanding accomplishments at FC Barcelona on a global scale, his native Argentina did not show him the same kind of support. Leo was beloved by many Argentine fans, but the local media criticized him for his lack of success with the national team while enjoying great success in Spain. He was frequently contrasted with Diego Maradona as well.

Barcelona endured a difficult time from 2018 to 2020, losing in the semifinals of the Champions League in each of those years. Barcelona suffered heartbreaking losses at the hands of Roma, Liverpool, and Bayern, which kept them from reaching the championship game.

Additionally, the club's board under Josep Maria Bartomeu began to encounter financial issues. Messi was almost forced to leave Barcelona as a result of all those problems. The Argentine football player appeared prepared to sign a free agency deal in 2020, but it turned out that his contract forbade it.

Messi was forced to stay through his most difficult year at the club, the 2020–21 season. Leo was one of the team's few shining lights once more, but it was nevertheless a disappointing season as Barca lost to PSG in the Champions League and finished third in LaLiga.

Even though Messi was in the last year of his contract, his attitude has altered since Bartomeu left. Despite the club's numerous financial issues, Joan Laporta was elected, and the future seemed much brighter. Messi therefore appeared prepared to re-sign even though he became a free agency at the end of the season.

In a startling turn of events, the club informed Messi that the wage cap regulations prevented him from being registered in LaLiga. Messi left in an instant. Ironically, Messi ultimately found pleasure with Argentina during the toughest times he experienced at Barcelona.

Messi eventually transformed the narrative around the Argentine national team, but it took a while. After the 2018 World Cup, a more experienced Leo had become the face of the team's rehabilitation under Lionel Scaloni. There was no turning back after the squad finished third in the 2019 Copa America. 

Argentina defeated opponents and the host nation Brazil in the Maracana final, ending Messi's illustrious quest for an elusive international championship. La Albiceleste broke a 28-year losing streak, and Messi scored the senior national team's first significant victory.

‍Since that time, Messi has only experienced support from the Argentine people. In addition, he continued to guide the group as they qualified for Qatar 2022 and won the iconic Finalissima trophy.

Image: theguardian.com

Interesting Fun Facts about Footballer Lionel Messi

1.  Luis Lionel Andres Messi is his full name.
2. On June 24, 1987, he was born in Rosario, Argentina.
3. Jorge Messi, Messi's father, was a steelworker and the trainer of the neighborhood young football club.
4. Messi's father started exploring for alternatives because the maximum amount of time his medical insurance would pay for therapy was two years. Lionel Messi was also seen by a Buenos Aires team, but they were unable to pay for his medical care.
5. Inter Milan made an offer to acquire Messi in response to Capello's suggestion. They were prepared to fulfill his €150 million release clause and pay him three times as much. In the end, he chose to remain in Barcelona.
6. Messi was unable to participate in Barcelona's victory against Arsenal in the 2006 UEFA Champions League final due to an injury. He was so upset that he neglected to celebrate his Champions League triumph, something he subsequently regretted.
7. Messi became the first player in 12 years to score a hat-trick in an El-Clasico on March 10, 2007. His goals tied Real Madrid's, and extra time resulted in a 3-3 draw in the game.
8. After Ronaldinho left in 2008, Messi wore the illustrious number 10.
9. Messi initially was unable to participate in the 2008 Summer Olympics because of Barcelona's UEFA Champions League qualifying matches. He was permitted to play following Pep Guardiola's influence. Argentina ultimately won the gold medals at the Olympics that year.
10. In the Copa Del Rey, Messi faced Athletic Bilbao in his first championship game. His assist gave Barcelona the 4-1 victory in the game. Three days later, Barcelona won La Liga, partly as a result of Messi's efforts.
11. After defeating Manchester United 2-0 in the championship match, Messi ended the year as the European Champion. In this game, Messi scored off of a header. Barcelona thus accomplished the first triple in the annals of Spanish football.
12. In the 2009–10 season, Messi equaled Ronaldo's club record of 47 goals scored in all competitions from the 1996–97 season.
13. Messi's first hat-trick of the 2010–11 season against Sevilla in the Supercopa de Espaa helped his club win yet another championship.
14. In the El-Clasico defeat of Real Madrid, which was Jose Mourinho's debut game in command of Real Madrid, he was extraordinarily productive.
15. Barcelona played four El Clasicos during the course of 18 days at the close of the season, including games in the Copa del Rey final, two UEFA Champions League semifinals, and a La Liga match. Messi's penalty helped Barcelona tie the La Liga game. Messi got two goals in the opening leg of the Champions League semi-final after Real Madrid defeated Barcelona in the Copa del Rey Final.
16. During the 2011–12 season, Messi set a record with 73 goals and 29 assists in all competitions. That season, he scored a hat-trick on more than ten different occasions.
17. In August 2011, Messi was named captain of the Argentina National Team.
18. Additionally, he was named the first-ever UEFA Best Player in Europe.
19. When Messi scored five goals against Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16 encounter on March 7, 2012, he made history as the first player to accomplish so in a single Champions League match.
20. With 73 goals in all competitions, Messi outscored Gerd Müller's 67 goals in the 1972–73 Bundesliga season to become the highest scorer in a single season in European club football.
21. After surpassing his record of 40 years, Messi gifted Müller a number 10 Barcelona t-shirt inscribed "with respect and appreciation."
22. On February 7, 2013, Messi donned the captain's hat during a league game against Rayo Vallecano.
23. Barcelona's dismal performance during Messi's injury in 2013 led to the coining of the word "Messidependencia" to describe how crucial he was to the squad.
24. Messi led Argentina to the World Cup final in his debut tournament as captain, where they fell to Germany.
25. Messi was named the best player and received the Golden Ball at the tournament's end. Overall, Messi had a successful season thanks to his joint third-highest goal total and other accomplishments.
26. A record-breaking 122 goals were scored by the MSN trio of Messi, Suarez, and Neymar in all competitions during the 2014–15 season, with Messi contributing 58 of those goals.
27. Messi received the UEFA Best Player in Europe title for the second time as a result of his outstanding achievements during the season.
28. Messi set a record by winning the FIFA Ballon d'Or a record fifth time on January 11, 2016.
29. Messi took the penalty and helped Luis Suarez, who scored a hat-trick against Celta Vigo in a league game.
30. Messi, Suarez, and Neymar set a new Spanish record by scoring 131 goals in the 2015–16 campaign, breaking their own mark from the previous campaign.
31. Barcelona's all-time leading scorer from free kicks is presently Messi.
32. In his career, Messi has earned four Golden Boots. One of Lionel Messi's most endearing qualities that Barcelona supporters adore.
33. Messi is the UEFA Champions League player to reach 100 goals the fastest.
34. From 2009 through 2011, Messi was featured on the PES cover.
35. Since 2008, when he was 20 years old and dating Antonella Roccuzzo, Messi has been a couple. Since they were five years old, Roccuzzo and Messi have known one other as cousins. Three kids total were born to Messi and Roccuzzo.
36. Argentina qualified for the World Cup when Messi scored a hat-trick against Ecuador in Quito's challenging weather. Argentina's final opportunity to earn a spot in the FIFA World Cup was now.
37. From FIFA 13 to FIFA 16, Messi appears in EA's FIFA series in a straight line.
38.  Messi missed his chance in the shootout in the Copa America championship match versus Chile, and Chile went on to win the match. After the championship game, Messi made his National team retirement announcement.
39. Several days after announcing his retirement, Messi changed his mind in response to a vigorous campaign by Argentina fans calling for him to rejoin the team.
40. Messi made his 100th appearance in the UEFA Champions League on September 16, 2015, making him the youngest player to do so.
41. On March 8, Messi beat Rayo Vallecano and recorded his quickest hat-trick in just 11 minutes. A record in Spanish football, this was also his 32nd hat-trick for Barcelona.
42. According to UEFA, Messi's second goal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinal is the finest score of the year. It was also the athletic event of the year with the most tweets. After forcing Jerome Boateng to the ground with a dribble past him, Messi chipped the ball over Manuel Neuer to score.
43. On November 22, 2014, Messi scored a hat-trick against Sevilla to surpass Pele as the all-time leading scorer in La Liga.

 

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 More Fun Facts about Footballer Lionel Messi

After the defeat, a heartbroken Messi was spotted sobbing as Argentina's quest for a win abroad grew longer. Messi announced his intention to leave the national squad after the game, having experienced his lowest moment since representing his country. Many Argentinians were shocked to see their idol at an all-time low, and the naysayers were still around and their opinions were much louder after that final.

Fortunately, a few months later Messi had a change of heart. But that doesn't imply that things became simpler.

Argentina had difficulties getting to the 2018 World Cup. The administration of the soccer federation saw substantial changes, and the squad went through three different coaches throughout the qualifying rounds. Ultimately, Argentina secured a place in Russia.
 

Argentina wasn't in a good mood when it arrived in Russia, and it was expensive. In a 1-1 draw with Iceland, Messi missed a penalty, and then Argentina suffered a humiliating defeat to Croatia. Argentina fell to eventual champions France after the Barcelona star's team overcame Nigeria to stay in the group stage.

This time, Messi wasn't at fault since head coach Jorge Sampaoli performed appallingly. However, for the finest player on Earth, it was yet another disappointing World Cup. Messi fared better at Barcelona during those years, but he would soon have difficulties there as well.

2013 presented challenges for Messi. The soccer powerhouse missed months of action due to hamstring ailments, but he recovered well enough to finish 2014 as the all-time leading scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League.

The team repeated the treble that year with a potent offensive combination of strikers Luis Suarez, Messi, and Neymar, making it the final great season for Messi and Barcelona. Additionally, after falling short against Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013 and 2014, the Argentinean player won back the FIFA Ballon d'Or.