Lionel Messi

We're celebrating Lionel Messi's 35th birthday by taking a look back at certain aspects of his incredible career to date.

When it comes to the Ballon d'Or, Messi was the second-oldest player ever to win the award in 2021 aged (34 years, 158 days) and tops the all-time table with seven gongs to his name. Ronaldo is his closest rival (5) on that front in much the same way he trails Messi in the all-time list of European Golden Shoe wins (6 vs. That said, Sir Stanley Matthews was 41 years and 320 days old when he won the inaugural Ballon d'Or in 1956, so perhaps there is still time after all! Iran's Ali Daei (109) is the only other male player to break 100. Messi has also outperformed himself in goals scored per 90 mins (0.76 for Argentina; 0.64 for PSG), shots attempted (4.6 vs. This level is broadly consistent with his average assist rate (20 in all comps) over the course of his nine prior club seasons at Camp Nou. With most professional footballers retiring in their mid-30s, it's understandable that productivity generally begins to tail off around that point. It's more than likely that Qatar 2022 represents his last chance to right that particular wrong. Indeed, he has been putting up better stats per 90 minutes for Argentina right across the board. In all competitions, Messi has 787 goals and is only 13 shy of joining Ronaldo (821) as the only two players in history to have scored 800 or more goals in official matches. Messi has collected two significant honours with his country (2021 Copa America, 2022 Finalissima) in just 1,769 minutes of football, compared to one honour (2021-22 Ligue 1 title) in the 5,489 minutes he spent on the field for PSG last season. Messi is also entering the final 12 months of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain (though the club have the option of adding another year) in what could prove to be a significant period as he starts to wind down his career.

The Argentine superstar joining Paris Saint-Germain a year ago and has shattered the record of player shirt sales meaning that Manchester United no longer ...

It was not easy for Messi last season, but next season we will see the best version of Messi ever." We have a lot of demand for lifestyle products, the revenue with the Jordan brand is huge, but the demand grows even more when you sign a player like Messi." He told Le Parisien: "There is no doubt that Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or a record seven times, and it was not his best season. PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi told Marca earlier this week when explaining that the arrival of the Argentine actually generated funds for the club: "If we make a signing, it is because we can. Almost €1million was generated in shirt sales alone in the hours following confirmation that Messi had joined the French club and would wear the number 30 shirts. PSG sold over one million shirts for the first time last season with 'Messi 30' accounting for over 60 per cent of that figure, which is the record for any player.

It has been revealed that PSG shifted over one million jerseys for the first time last season, with Messi's No 30 shirt making up over 60 per cent of the ...

You can't produce a lot of extra shirts. 'Nobody can meet that demand. It has been revealed that his club shifted over one million jerseys for the first time last season, with Messi's No 30 shirt making up over 60 per cent of the figure.

The Argentine legend moved from Barcelona to Paris last summer in a shock transfer.

We have reached the ceiling.” They doubled the service area available to them in order to shift as many shirts as possible. He added: “Nobody can meet that demand. You can't produce a lot of extra shirts.” “We have a lot of demand for lifestyle products, the revenue with the Jordan brand is huge, but the demand grows even more when you sign a player like Messi.” United are also no longer the club that has the most shirt sales, with PSG now sitting top of the charts.

It's another year older for Lionel Messi - and the Argentina star is hoping that his latest birthday will bring good tidings and great fortune over the next ...

The official account of the UEFA Champions League - which Messi has won four times across his career, all with Barcelona - also hailed him on his special day. Messi's current club PSG also chimed in with their wishes, posting a graphic of the player with a cake to their Twitter feed. Rocuzzo, who married Messi in 2017 and is the father of their three children, wished him happy returns in a picture posted to her Instagram profile.

But most important to him will be leading the Argentine national team to glory in the World Cup in Qatar. They'll be one of the favourites heading to the Middle ...

Messi will hope to spearhead a more impressive campaign next season at the Parc des Princes and help PSG win the first European Cup of their history and his first since 2015. Antonela wishing Messi a happy birthday: "Happy birthday my love. ❤❤❤❤ Loving you more is impossible!"

In the 91st minute, the match was delicately poised at 2-2, with Messi having scored one of the Barcelona goals to take his tally to 499.

A goal so good it silenced the Real Madrid stadium. In the 91st minute, the match was delicately poised at 2-2, with Messi having scored one of the Barcelona goals to take his tally to 499. Fans of both teams would have been forgiven for thinking that the match was over at 2-2, but Barcelona had other ideas.

Soccer superstar Lionel Messi and Antonela Roccuzzo have been married for five years. Find out everything about their relationship here.

They got married in their hometown when Lionel was 30 and Antonela was 29. Their middle son Mateo was then born in 2015. According to her page, she is also an avid fan of staying in shape. The couple’s eldest son Thiago was born in November of 2012. Lionel and Antolea’s relationship began in 2007 when Antonela’s best friend tragically died in a car accident. However, Lionel moved to Spain at the age of 13 to pursue his athletic career, keeping the two apart.

For nearly two decades running now, the responsibility of creating that art, for thousands across the world, has been given to Lionel Messi. Advertisement.

He is the best in the world. He is reinventing the game – a mix of the real and the virtual.” He is the best I’ve ever seen.” Luis Enrique: “Messi is Matrix. He’s able to stop the time and do whatever he wants. Adriano Galliani (AC Milano Chief): “Messi is the best player ever. Zinedine Zidane: “He is always going forwards. John Terry: “Lionel Messi is quite clearly the best player ever. Pep Guardiola: “He is the best player I have ever seen. Fabio Capello: “In my entire life I have never seen a player of such quality and personality at such a young age, particularly wearing the ‘heavy’ shirt of one of the world’s great clubs… In the future, I will be able to say I saw Messi play.” Samuel Eto’o: “Messi is God, as a person and even more as a player. He’s key, he controls the pace, he directs above all the team’s attack.”