10 Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi, 1987-06-24, Forward for Argentina, plays for Inter Miami. 187 international caps, 109 goals. Part of Argentina's 2026 World Cup Group J squad.
Biography
Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, 2022 World Cup champion, and one of the greatest players in history. Currently plying his trade at Inter Miami, a clinical forward, Lionel Messi possesses sharp finishing instincts and intelligent movement, serving as Argentina's primary attacking threat. Has earned 187 international caps, scoring 109 goals — a remarkable scoring rate. Born in 1987, the 38-year-old veteran continues to compete at the highest level, bringing invaluable experience and professionalism. Set to represent Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a historic moment for the nation.
Career Timeline
In 2025, he was named the All Time Men's World Best Player by the IFFHS.
He joined the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami in July 2023, and led them to their first MLS Cup victory in 2025, while also winning back-to-back league MVP awards in 2024 and 2025.
Messi's third major international title arrived when Argentina won the 2024 Copa América.
In 2022, he led Argentina to a World Cup victory, the country's first in 36 years.
Messi was central to ending Argentina's 28-year trophy drought by winning the 2021 Copa América.
Financial difficulties at Barcelona led Messi to depart in August 2021 and sign with Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title during both of his seasons there.
In 2020, Messi was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team and became the second footballer and second team-sport athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings.
After announcing his retirement from international football in 2016, he returned to help Argentina qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Assuming captaincy in 2011, he led Argentina to three consecutive finals in the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Copa América and the Copa América Centenario, all of which they lost.
During the 2014–15 season, where he became the all-time top scorer in La Liga, he led Barcelona to a historic second treble.
This resulted in Messi winning the first of four consecutive Ballon d'Ors, and by the 2011–12 season he had set the European record for most goals in a season and established himself as Barcelona's all-time top scorer.
Several years after his senior debut in 2005, he won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.