Lionel Messi turned 39 this summer, but shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to impress in the twilight of his career.
Currently playing at his sixth World Cup, having made his tournament debut back in 2006, he could be on course to win it back-to-back, while also potentially claiming the golden boot.
And that’s barely even the tip of the iceberg of Messi’s astonishing career, in which he has shone both at club and international level.
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Messi has won 46 trophies during a glittering career
Lionel Messi was born in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina on June 24, 1987.
After starting out at Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys, he moved to Barcelona aged 14 after his father convinced then first-team director Carles Rexach to write a contract on a napkin.
It would prove to be an inspired move, with Messi staying at the Catalan giants for 21 years in total, becoming their all-time top goalscorer, winning 10 La Liga trophies, seven Copa del Rey, seven Supercopa de Espana, four Champions Leagues, three UEFA Super Cups and three club world cups.
He finally left the Camp Nou in 2021, when he joined French giants PSG, where he claimed three trophies, including two league titles and a Trophee des Champions.
However, after two seasons, he moved again to Inter Miami where he has guided them to an MLS Cup, a Supporters’ Shield and a Leagues Cup, scoring 90 goals and providing 51 assists in 104 matches.
In his later years, it has been his international exploits that have made headlines more than his club football.
In the last five years, he has picked up four international trophies, including the 2022 World Cup, two Copa Americas and a Finalissima, although some people don’t count the latter as a particularly noteworthy cup.
As an individual he is the most decorated player of all time and has won the Ballon D’or a record eight times, including four years in a row from 2009-2021.
He could claim a second World Cup this summer, with Argentina in the quarter finals of the 2026 North American tournament.
He’s currently the top scorer too, with eight goals from five games.