Striking Facts About Lionel Messi

October 12, 2017 | Shannon Quinn

Striking Facts About Lionel Messi


"I always thought I wanted to play professionally, and I always knew that to do that I'd have to make a lot of sacrifices. I made sacrifices by leaving Argentina, leaving my family to start a new life. I changed my friends, my people. Everything. But everything I did, I did for football, to achieve my dream." —Lionel Messi


Lionel Messi Facts

1. The Legend is Born

Lionel Messi was born in Argentina in 1987. His father, Jorge, was a blue-collar steel worker. Messi's dad also coached the local youth football club for his sons.

Lionel Messi playing at the La Liga matchChristian Bertrand, Shutterstock

2. Best Buddies

Messi grew up with two older brothers, and would always try very hard to keep up with them. He is quoted as saying, "I've always had a great relationship with my two brothers, I have always had their support in my football and in everything. They've been very close to me and we have a great relationship."

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and his brothers Matias and RodrigoRodolfo Molina, Getty Images

Advertisement

3. Where Are You From?

Argentina is filled with people from both Latin American and European heritage. Messi’s ethnic heritage is Italian, but his first language is Spanish.

Lionel Messi of Barcelona looks on prior the La Liga match Quality Sport Images, Getty Images

4. Teamwork

The first soccer club that Messi joined was Newell's Old Boys in Argentina. Even when Messi was young, it was very clear that he was talented.

Lionel Messi with his team's jersey after paying tributeJ. BASSA, Getty Images

5. Short Stuff

Messi was a lot shorter than everyone else his age, and it became very noticeable when playing soccer. He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, but his parents couldn't afford hormone injections.

Lionel Messi FactsNurPhoto, Getty Images

Advertisement

6. Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

Messi joined the FC Barcelona Youth Academy in Spain when he was 13 years old. After seeing how good he was at soccer, the academy offered to pay for his hormone treatments if he played for them. His entire family moved to Spain while he went through his treatments and soccer training.

Lionel Messi pointing at the cameraMaxisport, Shutterstock

7. Just Take My Money!

In 2000, the sports director for FC Barcelona was scouting for young talent. After he saw Messi play, he knew that he had to sign him immediately. There was nothing to write on, so he found a napkin to write a contract right away.

 Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou stadiumJOSEP LAGO, Getty Images

8. Just Call Me...

Messi was given the nickname The Flea because of how small he is; even after he got taller, the name stuck.

Lionel Messi FactsJean Catuffe, Getty Images

Advertisement

9. Young Blood

FC Barcelona signed him as an official member of the team when Messi was only 17 years old. He is the youngest person to ever join the team. He also made the record of the youngest person to score a professional goal in 2005.

Lionel Messi talking on the phoneMysyakin Alexandr, CC BY-SA 3.0 GFDL, Wikimedia Commons

Factinate

Sign up to our newsletter.

History’s most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Making distraction rewarding since 2017.

Thank you!
Error, please try again.

10. Dual Citizenship

Messi plays for both FC Barcelona in Spain and for the Argentinian national team. In 2005, Messi became an official citizen of Spain.

Lionel Messi of Argentina during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Jean Catuffe, Getty Images

11. Represent

In 2008, Messi won the olympic gold soccer medal with team Argentina at the Beijing Olympics.

Argentinian forwards Lionel Messi and Sergio AgueroKoji Watanabe, Getty Images

Advertisement

12. Crimson

Messi’s favorite color is red.

Player of Barcelona Lionel Messi in uniformVerveridis Vasilis, Shutterstock

13. Recognition

Lionel Messi won the "FIFA World Player of the Year" award in 2009.

 Lionel Messi receives the trophy from the hands of FIFA president  FABRICE COFFRINI, Getty Images

14. Good Eats

Messi's favorite meal is escalope Milanese, which is Milan's signature dish of veal with a side salad.

Messi during BBVA League match Francesc Juan, Shutterstock

Advertisement

15. Messi’s Day Off

When he isn’t playing soccer, Messi spends most of his free time playing video games, sleeping, or hanging out with his family.

Lionel Messi of Barcelona FC at Don Muang airportmooinblack, Shutterstock

16. He’s Killing It

In 2012, Messi scored five goals in a single Championship League match, which broke a record for the number of goals achieved by one player.

 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his sides second goal Jasper Juinen, Getty Images

17. True Calling

Messi says that when he plays soccer, he has so much fun that he feels like a kid playing in the street with his friends. He admits that whenever the day comes where he no longer feels that joy is when he knows it will be time to retire.

Lionel Messi during an MLS soccer matchRingo Chiu, Shutterstock

Advertisement

18. Busted

Lionel Messi and his father both had some drama with tax law in 2016. They were not aware of the tax laws that governed Spain, and they were forced to pay millions of Euro to the government. Father and son almost went to jail, but were pardoned in court.

 Lionel Messi and his father Jorge Horacio Messi AFP, Getty Images

19. Sweethearts

In June of 2017, Messi married Antonella Roccuzzo. The two have known each other all their lives, meeting in Argentina when they were only 5 years old. Messi and Roccuzzo had two sons together—Thiago and Mateo—before they got engaged.

 Lionel Messi and Antonela Rocuzzo pose for pictures Gabriel Rossi, Getty Images

20. Tunes

Messi's favorite musician is Sergio Torres.

 Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring a goalA.RICARDO, Shutterstock

Advertisement

21. Get 'Em While They’re Young

Only three days after his first son was born, the Newell's Old Boys soccer club back in Argentina signed Messi’s son Thiago as a member.

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona kisses his son Thiago David Ramos, Getty Images

22. Book Worm

Messi's favorite book is El Martín Fierro by Jorge Luis Borges. It’s an Argentinian classic filled with poetry about an outlaw.

Argentine short story writer and essayist Jorge Luis BorgesLevan Ramishvili, Flickr

23. Inked Up

Messi has the names and baby handprints of his sons tattooed on his legs. His right arm and left leg are almost entirely covered in tattoos.

Lionel Messi tattoo on his legCosmin Iftode, Shutterstock

Advertisement

24. Multi-Talented

One of Messi's hidden talents is playing the piano.

Lionel Messi at UEFA Champions Leaguecristiano barni, Shutterstock

25. Vintage

When asked what his favorite movie was, Messi gave the surprising answer: the 1994 comedy movie Baby’s Day Out.

A screenshot of the movie Baby's Day Out20th Century Fox, Baby's Day Out (1994)

26. Til Death Do Us Part

Messi’s wedding had over 260 guests. Many of the attendees were professional soccer players and other celebrities; Shakira was one of the guests at his wedding.

Singer Shakira attending the iHeartRadioJason Merritt, Getty Images

Advertisement

27. Make Bank

Forbes magazine estimates that Messi is worth $80 Million, making him one of the highest paid athletes of all time. However, that’s not what motivates him. He is quoted as saying, "My motivation comes from playing the game I love. If I wasn't paid to be a professional footballer I would willingly play for nothing."

Messi plays at the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Granada CFChristian Bertrand, Shutterstock

28. Three Stripes

Messi has a lifelong endorsement deal with Adidas. The company paid him $27 million to be in their commercials and ad campaigns.

Lionel Messi of Argentina in play during Conmebollev radin, Shutterstock

29. Nippon

In Japan, Messi's face was on Scalp-D face wash. He also appeared in Japanese commercials; his tag line is "Messi Kimoshi!" or "Feels like Messi!"

 Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona on the set of the EA SportsVisionhaus, Getty Images

Advertisement

30. Only in Japan

Speaking of Japan: In order to raise money for the victims of the 2013 earthquake and tsunami, Messi donated a casting of his foot, which was turned into a golden statue. The golden foot was auctioned off for $5.25 Million.

Golden statue of the left foot of Lionel Messi Koki Nagahama, Getty Images

31. Do It For The Kids

He established the Leo Messi Foundation, which helps kids who are born with illnesses get medical treatments if their families cannot afford to help them. Messi is also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.

Unicef Ambassador and Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi waves along with childrenLLUIS GENE, Getty Images

32. Save the Children!

Messi donated almost a million dollars to rehabilitate a children’s hospital in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina. This covered repairs to the building, new machines to monitor and treat childhood cancer, and extra medical training for the doctors.

Rosario Skyline Viewed From The National Flag MemorialCivArmy, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

33. Woof

Messi has a French Mastiff named Señor Hulk.

Argentina National Soccer team captain Lionel MessiDokshin Vlad, Shutterstock

34. Don’t Look At Me

Messi hates watching himself play soccer on TV.

Argentina national football team captain Lionel Messi Alizada Studios, Shutterstock

35. Fingers In The Air

Every time he makes a goal, Messi uses both hands to point up to the sky. Apparently, this is his way of thanking God every time a goal happens.

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his sides first goal NurPhoto, Getty Images

Advertisement

36. Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina

Since Messi has to divide his time and attention between two different soccer teams, the Argentina national team has been upset with him, saying he is not as loyal to his home country as he is to Spain. He has been quoted on multiple occasions saying that he is still a loyal Argentinian.

Lionel Messi of Argentina waves to the fans prior to the 2018 FIFA World CupJamie Squire - FIFA, Getty Images

37. Sulking

Messi admits that he’s not very good at losing. Whenever his team loses a match, he needs to be alone for a while. He shuts down, and doesn’t like to talk to anyone.

A dejected Lionel Messi of ArgentinaMatthew Ashton, Getty Images

38. Public Display of Affection

In 2017, Messi got a tattoo of his wife’s lips on his lower abdomen.

Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo (wife) during their honeymoonA.RICARDO, Shutterstock

Advertisement

39. Breaking Up is Hard

FC Barcelona has a contract with Lionel Messi that says that if they ever fire him, the team owes him $300 million.

Lionel Messi celebrates after a goal scoreCosmin Iftode, Shutterstock

40. Commitment

Messi lives in a beautiful house in Barcelona with his family, but he apparently has a new eco-friendly home in the works; it’s shaped like a soccer ball!

Antonela Roccuzzo, Lionel Messi and their sons attend the 67th Ballon D'Or PhotocallMarc Piasecki, Getty Images

41. Massive Results

In 2017, Lio Messi reached a total of 500 career goals.

A tattooed Barcelona forward Lionel Messi warming upNurPhoto, Getty Images

Advertisement

42. Number One

Messi has been dubbed "the best soccer player in the world" on many occasions.

The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award Winner Lionel MessiTullio Puglia - FIFA, Getty Images

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10


More from Factinate

Featured Article

My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.

Dark Family Secrets

Dark Family Secrets Exposed

Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
April 8, 2020 Samantha Henman

Featured Article

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.

Madame de Pompadour Facts

Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
December 7, 2018 Kyle Climans

More from Factinate

Featured Article

I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.

These People Got Genius Revenges

When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
April 22, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.

Catherine of Aragon Facts

Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
June 7, 2018 Christine Tran



Dear reader,


Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.