Lionel Messi is a football player who plays for FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team, where he has won four FIFA World Player of the Year awards.
Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina on June 24, 1987. He is a product of the youth academy at FC Barcelona, playing there from 1997 to 2003. In 2005, he was taken by FC Barcelona to play with their first-team squad (he had been on the reserves) and became the youngest player ever to play in La Liga when he debuted at 17 years old.
Messi has since become one of the most prolific goal scorers in football history. He has scored over 200 goals for FC Barcelona since signing with them as a teenager and has helped lead them to three UEFA Champions League titles as well as two Copa del Rey trophies.
His achievements have earned him numerous accolades. He was named Best Player in La Liga twice (twice!) during his first stint with Barcelona—in 2004 and 2011—and won Best Player in Europe in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014. He also won Best Player in South America in 2007 and 2011
