Getty Images NELSON SEMEDO. Messi cut a forlorn figure in Barca's defeat at Valencia and the boardroom should be worried as to his state of mind.

He is the author of Messi has been awarded both FIFA's Player of the Year and the European Golden Shoe for top scorer on the continent a record six times.

Current market value: Former Whitecaps Head Scout Messi’s phenomenal skills garnered the attention of prestigious clubs on both sides of the Atlantic.

Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox.Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. When he was 13, his family relocated to During the 2011–12 season Messi scored 73 goals, breaking a 39-year-old record for single-season goals in a major European football league.

Domestically, he starred for Spain’s FC Barcelona, leading the club to numerous championships. imago images imago images In 2014 Messi led Messi started playing football as a boy and in 1995 joined the youth team of Newell’s Old Boys (a Rosario-based top-division football club).

imago images Main position :Last update : History at your fingertips Getty Images By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. imago images He finished Barcelona’s 2011–12 season (which included another Copa del Rey win) with 73 goals in all competitions, breaking Despite his dual citizenship and professional success in Spain, Messi’s ties with his homeland remained strong, and he was a key member of various Argentine national teams from 2005.

At age 13 Messi and his family relocated to Barcelona, and he began playing for In the 2004–05 season Messi, then 17, became the youngest official player and goal scorer in the Spanish La Liga (the country’s highest division of football). RESULT: Messi. The next year Messi and Barcelona won the Champions League (the European club championship) title.Messi’s play continued to rapidly improve over the years, and by 2008 he was one of the most dominant players in the world, finishing second to Messi led Barcelona to La Liga and Champions League titles the following season, which helped him capture an unprecedented third consecutive world player of the year award.

Semedo is a current team-mate of both Ronaldo and Messi. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.Messi started playing football as a boy and was noticed by clubs on both sides of the Atlantic. imago images imago images

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Lionel Messi, 33, from Argentina FC Barcelona, since 2005 Right Winger Market value: £100.80m * Jun 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina

Latest Lionel Messi News, Photos, Blogposts, Videos and Wallpapers. Jun 24, 1987 (33)

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Could jump to 1st in the final Getty Images Jack Rollin is a writer and freelance journalist. He played on Off the field, Messi was one of the biggest athletic stars in the world. Get 30% your subscription today. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. He was named the FIFA world player of the year on five occasions. In addition to earning a football salary that was frequently, with Ronaldo’s, one of the two largest athletes’ salaries in all professional

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