Lionel Messi
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Date of birth: June 24, 1987
Instagram: @leomessi
Club(s): Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami
Country: Argentina
Signing fee: Academy
Considered by many one of the greatest players of all time, if not the greatest. The forward has racked up astonishing numbers season after glittering season. Messi averaged almost a goal a game for Barca, and one in two for his country. Lifting the 2022 World Cup completed the trophy set and added to 35 trophies with Barcelona, two Copa America's and six Ballon d'Ors. But the stats do not tell the full story of unmatched levels of skill, invention and dribbling ability.
Latest about Lionel Messi
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'Obviously Messi is the best player in history and being compared to him means that you're doing things right, but I try to be myself': Barcelona star responds to comparisons with Argentine legend
By Ryan Dabbs published
Lionel Messi was the best player in the world for Barcelona, but one of the club's latest young talents has responded to being compared with the legend
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Lionel Messi just answered if he can do it on a cold, Tuesday night in Stoke after playing in -17 degrees temperature
By Ryan Dabbs published
Lionel Messi came up trumps on Wednesday night in extreme conditions, dispelling Stoke theory expertly
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'When I came to Madrid, I thought that I was Messi and Cristiano in one body – I was a punk, a nobody': Real Madrid star reflects brutally on his younger self
By Ryan Dabbs published
Real Madrid have attracted some talented players over the years, but one has brutally assessed how they acted when first arriving at the club
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False nine: football tactics explained
By Jack Lacey-Hatton last updated
TACTICS What actually is the false nine? Here's your handy tactical explainer
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Players who scored 40 goals in a season
By Ben Hayward published
A look at the players from the men's game who hit 40 or more goals in a single season of club football...
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Players who scored back-to-back hat-tricks
By Ben Hayward published
hat-trick heroes From the Premier League to the Champions League and international fixtures, a look at the men's players who scored back-to-back hat-tricks...
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Footballers with great nicknames
By Tom Hancock published
From 'Dave' to 'The Blind Venetian'...
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'I didn’t leave Barcelona to be the best in the world at PSG. Messi asked, "Why are you leaving?" I told him it's something personal': Neymar reveals why he made record-breaking 2017 transfer
By Ryan Dabbs published
Neymar argues that he didn't move to PSG solely to become the best player in the world
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