Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi News: Soccer Star Is the Subject of a New Apple TV+ Docuseries

Apple TV+ is set to provide soccer enthusiasts with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Lionel Messi and Argentina’s unforgettable 2022 World Cup victory through a new docuseries titled Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend. Premiering on February 21, the four-part series will feature the most personal interviews with Messi to date, offering an intimate and unprecedented insight into his journey toward achieving a legacy-defining World Cup title.

Currently playing for Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer (MLS), Messi played a pivotal role in leading Argentina to its first World Cup win since 1986. In the final match, he scored two goals, helping Argentina secure a dramatic 4-2 victory over France, led by Kylian Mbappé, in a penalty shootout. For his outstanding performance throughout the tournament, Messi was honored as the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

This upcoming series follows Messi Meets America, Apple’s 2023 exploration of the star striker’s transition to the MLS. Notably, the 2024 regular season for Inter Miami begins on the same day as the docuseries premiere, with a match against Real Salt Lake.

Who Is Lionel Messi?

Lionel Messi is a renowned Argentine soccer player known for his illustrious career with FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and currently, Inter Miami CF, as well as his contributions to the Argentina national team. Relocating from Argentina to Spain as a teenager, Messi joined FC Barcelona, which covered his medical treatments for a growth hormone disorder. At Barcelona, he achieved remarkable success, establishing himself as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history by leading the club to over two dozen league titles and tournaments.

In 2012, Messi set a record for the most goals scored in a calendar year, and a decade later, he helped the Argentina national team clinch its third FIFA World Cup title. An eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi transitioned to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, before joining Inter Miami in July 2023.

Early Life of a Soccer Prodigy

Luis Lionel Andrés “Leo” Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. From a young age, Messi exhibited a passion for soccer, frequently accompanying his two older brothers as they played with friends, undeterred by their larger opponents. At just eight years old, he was recruited into the youth system of Newell’s Old Boys, a prominent soccer club in Rosario. However, Messi’s journey was not without challenges; he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency that hindered his physical development. To address this, his parents, Jorge and Celia, opted for a regimen of nightly hormone injections, though the financial burden of several hundred dollars per month proved to be unsustainable.

When Messi was 13, he received a life-changing opportunity to train at FC Barcelona’s prestigious youth academy, La Masia, which offered to cover his medical expenses. This prompted his family to relocate to Spain, despite the difficulties of adapting to a new country. Although he experienced homesickness, Messi quickly advanced through the ranks of the junior system. His diminutive stature—standing at 5 feet 7 inches—combined with his extraordinary speed and attacking prowess, led many to draw comparisons with another Argentine football legend, Diego Maradona.

Club Teams: Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami

Messi enjoyed a remarkable 17-season tenure with FC Barcelona before joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021. In July 2023, he made a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) by signing with Inter Miami.

FC Barcelona

Messi’s association with FC Barcelona began at the age of 13. He made his first-team debut at 16 and etched his name into the club’s history on May 1, 2005, becoming the youngest player to score a goal for the franchise. Over the years, Messi led Barcelona to tremendous success, notably in 2009 when he helped the team secure the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup titles. That same year, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, he claimed his first FIFA World Player of the Year honor, as well as his inaugural Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Argentine to win this prestigious award.

Messi’s extraordinary talent drew admiration from the great Maradona, who remarked, “I see him as very similar to me. He’s a leader and is offering lessons in beautiful football. He has something different than any other player in the world.”

Continuing his remarkable ascent, Messi discovered innovative ways to evade defenders and guided Barcelona to more La Liga and Spanish Super Cup championships in 2010 and 2011, alongside another Champions League title in 2011.

In 2012, Messi embarked on an unprecedented record-breaking spree, becoming the first player to score five goals in a single Champions League match. He also surpassed César Rodríguez’s record of 232 goals, becoming Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer. By the end of that year, he had amassed an astounding 91 goals across all competitions, breaking Gerd Müller’s long-standing record of 85 goals in a calendar year. This remarkable achievement earned him a fourth consecutive Ballon d’Or award.

Despite facing setbacks due to hamstring injuries in 2013, Messi returned to his record-breaking form by becoming the all-time leading scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League by late 2014. After contributing to Barcelona’s historic second treble in 2015, he was awarded his fifth Ballon d’Or trophy. In 2019, following another La Liga title, Messi further solidified his legacy by winning his sixth Ballon d’Or.

On August 5, 2021, FC Barcelona announced that they could not re-sign Messi due to financial constraints and La Liga regulations. This prompted an emotional farewell from Messi, who stated, “This is really difficult for me after so many years spent here, being here my entire life. I’m not ready for this.”

Paris Saint-Germain

Just four days after leaving Barcelona, Messi signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain, reuniting with former teammate Neymar and joining the talented Kylian Mbappé. He made his debut for PSG on August 29, 2021, and scored his first goal for the club in September. During his time in Paris, Messi helped the team secure two Ligue 1 titles; however, PSG struggled to advance beyond the Round of 16 in the Champions League.

Despite an option for a third year at PSG, the club announced they would release Messi as a free agent upon the expiration of his contract on June 30, 2023. Earlier that year, he faced a suspension and fine after an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, which cast further doubt on his future with the club. Messi’s final appearance for PSG occurred on June 3, 2023, concluding his tenure with 72 starts, 32 goals, and 34 assists.

Inter Miami CF

On June 7, 2023, Lionel Messi announced his intention to join Inter Miami CF, a Major League Soccer (MLS) club partially owned by former soccer star David Beckham. In interviews with Spanish media outlets, Messi stated, “I have made the decision that I am going to Miami,” as reported by ESPN. Although he considered an offer from a Saudi Arabian team, he ultimately chose to play for Inter Miami.

A little over a month later, on July 16, the club officially welcomed Messi, signing him to a 2.5-year contract that runs through the 2025 season. The reported value of the deal is approximately $150 million, which includes an annual salary between $50 million and $60 million, a signing bonus, revenue sharing with the league’s media partner, and equity in the team upon retirement. Messi’s presence significantly impacted the team both on and off the field; Inter Miami enjoyed a 12-match winning streak and secured the Leagues Cup, an annual tournament featuring teams from both the MLS and Liga MX. Throughout the season, Messi scored 11 goals in 14 matches. However, an injury late in the season contributed to a winless streak of seven games, preventing the team from qualifying for the playoffs. In November, he was named the club’s 2023 MVP.

Messi has also had a substantial impact on the club’s revenue. Home game attendance increased by 40%, the highest in the MLS. According to The Athletic, the price of the least expensive season tickets rose from $485 to $884 between 2023 and 2024. Despite this increase, Inter Miami announced that all 2024 season tickets were sold out by the end of November, two months before the start of the preseason. Unsurprisingly, Messi’s jersey became the best-selling item in the MLS.

Inter Miami and Messi will open the 2024 MLS regular season on February 21.

Argentina National Team

In the summer of 2005, Messi made a significant impact on Argentina’s under-20 squad, leading the team to victory in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. He scored two penalty kicks in the final match against Nigeria. Less than two months later, Messi made his professional debut for the national team during an August friendly match against Hungary, but his appearance was brief; he received a red card and was ejected after less than two minutes on the field.

Despite his successes with FC Barcelona, Messi faced criticism for his inability to secure a major title with the Argentine national team. In the 2014 World Cup, Argentina fell to Germany in the final, although Messi was honored as the tournament’s best player. Following two consecutive losses to Chile in the Copa America finals in 2016, Messi announced his retirement from international play. He later reversed this decision, but his hopes for a title in the 2018 World Cup were dashed when Argentina was eliminated by France in the knockout stage.

Messi’s career with the national team took a positive turn in 2021 and 2022 when Argentina won two significant trophies. The first was the Copa America in August 2021, Argentina’s first major title in 28 years, where Messi tied for the top goal scorer and was named the tournament’s best player. The following year, Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, defeating France in a dramatic final that culminated in a penalty shootout. Messi’s exceptional performance earned him the title of Best FIFA Men’s Player for a second time, and he set a record for the most World Cup appearances with 26 matches. Six jerseys worn by Messi during the championship run were auctioned for over $7.8 million.

In the fall of 2023, Messi scored three goals in qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup. As he approaches the latter stages of his career, he has adopted a pragmatic perspective regarding his future. “As long as I feel that I am fine and I can continue contributing, I am going to do it. Today, the only thing I think about is getting to the Copa America well and being able to compete in it,” he stated regarding the 2024 tournament. “Then time will tell if I am [at the World Cup] or not. I’m going to be at an age (39) that normally doesn’t allow me to play in the World Cup.”

Awards

Messi has won FIFA’s World Player Trophy five times, including four consecutive victories from 2009 to 2012, and has earned its contemporary counterpart, the Best FIFA Men’s Player, three times—in 2019, 2022, and 2023. He holds the record for the Ballon d’Or, having won it eight times. In October 2023, he became the first active MLS player to win the Ballon d’Or. Additionally, Messi has won the European Golden Shoe for top scorer six times, two more than his closest competitor, Cristiano Ronaldo.

In 2023, Time magazine honored Messi as its Athlete of the Year, recognizing his significant influence on the growing popularity of soccer in the United States.

Tax Fraud Scandal

In July 2016, Messi faced a setback off the field when a Barcelona court found him and his father guilty of tax fraud. During a four-day trial, both Messi and his father denied any wrongdoing, claiming they were unaware of any illegal activities regarding their taxes. Ultimately, they were sentenced to 21 months in prison. However, under Spanish law, first offenses under two years are typically suspended, allowing them to avoid incarceration. Messi was required to pay a fine of €2 million, while his father faced a fine of €1.5 million.

Family Life

On June 30, 2017, Lionel Messi married Antonella Roccuzzo, his longtime partner and the cousin of his close friend and fellow soccer player Lucas Scaglia. Messi and Roccuzzo first crossed paths in their hometown of Rosario when he was just five years old. Their marriage, a civil ceremony that garnered significant media attention, was described by Argentina’s Clarín newspaper as the “wedding of the century.” The event took place at a luxury hotel in Rosario and featured a guest list of 260 attendees, including several fellow star soccer players and Colombian pop star Shakira.

Messi and Roccuzzo are proud parents of three children: Thiago, born in November 2012; Mateo, born in September 2015; and Ciro, born in March 2018.

Charity Work and UNICEF Involvement

Despite his reputation for privacy off the field, Messi has consistently demonstrated a commitment to philanthropy. In 2007, he established the Leo Messi Foundation, dedicated to providing opportunities for disadvantaged youth. In early 2010, UNICEF appointed him as a goodwill ambassador, where he has focused on advocating for children’s rights around the globe.