Guwahati: Leo Messi, an Argentine football legend, turned 35 on Friday. He is also known as Lionel Andrés Messi. Messi who is regarded by many as one of the best players to ever grace a football field has been shining on the grandest platforms since he was 17 years old.
Messi, who was born on June 24, 1987, began his career in his native Argentina with groups like Grandoli and Newell’s Old Boys. He moved to Barcelona, Spain, when he was 13 years old, and in October 2004, at the age of 17, he made his club’s professional debut.
Messi spent practically his entire professional career with Barcelona, only leaving to join Paris Saint-Germain in a transaction that ended his illustrious association with the club while Barca was in a dire financial situation.
Messi established a reputation and a resume in Spain that are unmatched by many players in the modern game and may never be surpassed. Every season he played, his goal scoring totals grew, and he established himself as one of the finest footballers to ever play for the team and his native Argentina.
As Messi enters the latter stages of his career, let’s take a look at some of the records he left behind on the occasion of his birthday.
Ballon d’Or awards
The Argentine superstar holds the record with a whopping seven Ballon d’Or victories. The honour is given by France Football each year to the player who had the best overall season. Additionally, Messi was included in the 2020 Ballon d’Or Dream Team.
European Golden Boot
The highest goal scorer in league games from the top division of a European national league received the honour. Messi has won the coveted boot a career-high six times, finishing the season as the leading goal scorer despite having a lacklustre season with PSG.
Champions League hat-tricks
A record set by the legendary Barca player that appears to be reachable. Eight hat-tricks in the Champions League are a record for Messi. With 76 goals, he also leads the Champions’ League group stage. His fierce competitor Cristiano Ronaldo, who is seven, is right behind him.
That record will probably also be extended as Messi is expected to play at the highest levels of professional football for a few more years.
Most goals for the same club
Messi was closely associated with Barcelona Football Club for 21 years, during which time he amassed an astounding 672 goals. Messi also leads the league in hat-tricks with 36, goals with 474, assists with 192, and goals in a season of 38 La Liga games with 50.
Most goals in a calendar year
In 2012, Leo Messi scored a staggering 91 goals in one calendar year. The fact that he fell only nine goals shy of scoring 100 goals in a year shows what a great player and goal scorer he has been over the years. Gerd Muller, who scored 85 goals in 1972, is second to him.
Most Argentina caps
Messi has scored goals for his nation on multiple occasions in addition to for his club. With 160 appearances, he now holds the record for Argentina and is unlikely to stop very soon. Messi led Argentina to the Copa America championship in 2021 despite having experienced multiple heartbreaks on the international level.
These are just a few of the accomplishments made by one of the all-time greatest players in the history of the sport. Happy birthday, and best wishes to him.