At 16 years, four months, and 23 days old, Messi made his first team debut when he came on in the 75th minute during a friendly against José Mourinho's Porto on 16 November 2003. [22] [35] His performance, creating two chances and a shot on goal, impressed the technical staff, and he subsequently began training daily with the club's reserve side, Barcelona B, as well as weekly with the first team. [36] After his first training session with the senior squad, Barça's new star player, Ronaldinho, told his teammates that he believed the 16-year-old would become an even better player than himself. [37] Ronaldinho soon befriended Messi, whom he called "little brother", which greatly eased his transition into the first team. [38] [39] Messi playing against Málaga in 2005 European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or")". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation . Retrieved 9 May 2017. DE GEA, KANTE AND MBAPPE IN WORLD 11". FIFPro World Players' Union. 24 September 2018. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019 . Retrieved 25 September 2018.

In 2009, Barcelona won 2-0 with Messi scoring a brilliant header for their second. Ferdinand had missed the looping cross from Xavi. Towards the end of the season, Barcelona played four Clásicos in the span of 18 days. A league match on 16 April ended in a draw after a penalty from Messi. After Barcelona lost the Copa del Rey final four days later, Messi scored both goals in his side's 2–0 win in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals in Madrid, the second of which – a slaloming dribble past three Real players – was acclaimed as one of the best ever in the competition. [108] Although he did not score, he was again important in the second-leg draw that sent Barcelona through to the Champions League final, [109] [110] where they faced Manchester United in a repeat of the final two years earlier. As the competition's top scorer for the third consecutive year, with 12 goals, Messi gave a man-of-the-match performance at Wembley on 28 May, scoring the match-winning goal of Barça's 3–1 victory. [111] [112] Barcelona won a third consecutive La Liga title. In addition to his 31 goals, Messi was also the league's top assist provider with 18. [113] [114] He finished the season with 53 goals in all competitions, becoming Barcelona's all-time single-season top scorer and the first player in Spanish football to reach the 50-goal benchmark. [113] [115] Messi (centre) and his teammates celebrating winning the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup International career statistics [ change | change source ] As of 17 November 2020 Appearances and goals by national team, year and competition

In the Champions League, Messi scored twice and set up another in their 3–0 semi-final victory over Bayern Munich, now under the stewardship of Guardiola. [184] His second goal, which came only three minutes after his first, saw him chip the ball over goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after his dribble past Jérôme Boateng had made the defender drop to the ground; it went viral, becoming the year's most tweeted about sporting moment, and was named the best goal of the season by UEFA. [185] [186] Despite a second-leg loss, Barcelona progressed to the final on 6 June in Berlin, where they defeated Juventus 3–1 to win their second treble, becoming the first team in history to do so. [187] [188] Although Messi did not score, he participated in each of his side's goals, particularly the second as he forced a parried save from goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from which Suárez scored the match-winning goal on the rebound. [177] In addition to being the top assist provider with six assists, Messi finished the competition as the joint top scorer with ten goals, which earned him the distinction of being the first player ever to achieve the top scoring mark in five Champions League seasons. [189] [190] For his efforts during the season, he received the UEFA Best Player in Europe award for a second time. [191] 2015–16: domestic success Messi holding off Sevilla's Éver Banega during the 2015 UEFA Super Cup He also received his first football uniform at the insistence of his grandma. At that time, his grandma wished for Messi to play football. At age 4, he became the first member of the neighborhood football team Granddoli. His grandmother always motivated him by saying "One day, Leo, you'll be the best football player in the world." Messi's Battle

Former Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Fabregas says his first impression of young Messi was that "he was a very small kid, didn't speak, he was very shy". Defender Gerard Piqué explains Barcelona's reliance on an unfit Messi against Paris Saint-Germain in April 2013. [150]The Monday Night Club discuss whether Jude Bellingham is England's best talent since Paul Gascoigne, after he was named best young player at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony. On 24 June, his 18th birthday, Messi signed his first contract as a senior team player. It made him a Barcelona player until 2010, two years less than his previous contract, but his buyout clause increased to €150million. [41] His breakthrough came two months later, on 24 August, during the Joan Gamper Trophy, Barcelona's pre-season competition. A starter for the first time, he gave a well-received performance against Fabio Capello's Juventus, receiving an ovation from the Camp Nou. [48] Capello sought to take Messi to Juventus on loan, but Inter Milan offered to pay his €150million buyout clause and triple his wages. [49] According to then-president Joan Laporta, it was the only time the club faced a real risk of losing Messi, but he ultimately decided to stay. [50] On 16 September, his contract was updated for the second time in three months and extended to 2014. [41] [51] Messi during a training session with Barcelona in 2006

Messi on reversing his decision to leave Barcelona in an interview with Goal on 4 September 2020. [287] Messi continued to struggle with injury throughout 2013, eventually parting ways with his long-time personal physiotherapist. [152] Further damage to his hamstring sustained on 12 May ended his goalscoring streak of 21 consecutive league games, a worldwide record; he had netted 33 goals during his run, including a four-goal display against Osasuna, while becoming the first player to score consecutively against all 19 opposition teams in La Liga. [153] [154] With 60 goals in all competitions, including 46 goals in La Liga, he finished the campaign as league top scorer in Spain and Europe for the second consecutive year, becoming the first player in history to win the European Golden Shoe three times. [155] [156] Following an irregular start to the new season under manager Gerardo Martino, formerly of his boyhood club Newell's Old Boys, Messi suffered his fifth injury of 2013 when he tore his hamstring on 10 November, leaving him sidelined for two months. [157] [158] Despite his injuries, he was voted runner-up for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, relinquishing the award after a four-year monopoly to Cristiano Ronaldo. [159] Lionel Andres Messi Cuccittini (born June 24, 1987) is an Argentine professional football player, who despite the odds against him, turns things around and brings out a miracle when it’s least expected. He captains and plays forward for Barcelona (Spanish club) as well as the Argentina national team. Ever since he was a kid, he has entertained many with his prodigious skills, amazing dribbles, astounding swiftness and powerful shots. Now a global icon, he still adds to the thrill of the beautiful game of football. We discuss the life of Lionel Messi, fondly referred to as the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) in our Lionel Messi biography facts, childhood, career and personal life. One of the most favorable events for Messi was when he had the opportunity to work alongside a great player like Ronaldo. Messi's performance at the time blew Ronaldo away. He also mentioned Messi that One day, this youngster will exceed me. Together, they contributed to numerous victories for Barcelona. The Copa América 2011 Dream Team". Copa America Organisation. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015 . Retrieved 13 September 2015.

In a comprehensive new one-hour film for the BBC, a host of his former team-mates and players who have faced him, as well as journalists who have covered him, delve deep into the enigma that is Messi. Lionel Messi retires from Argentina after Copa America final loss to Chile". ESPN.com. 2016-06-27 . Retrieved 2021-03-09.