10 Interesting Facts About Lionel Messi

Messi was part of the “Baby Dream Team,” which was Barcelona’s greatest ever youth side.

[{"selector":"#anim-c6ad53dc-fa66-427d-be39-0d46f252c362 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8134b90f-86e7-4d6c-b428-78d7b95bf69e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.37724%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45e0dbc6-b002-4d8d-a422-e9c8985bf30e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b967102-5248-49ca-bcc9-1c093e2687b0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

During his full season in 2002, Messi was the top scorer with 36 goals in 30 games.

[{"selector":"#anim-282cf231-c397-4578-a2b5-51998ca81de2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1ccedfb-ac76-443f-b3d0-91f4ed9c763e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(108.98203%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74b490a5-2555-4606-bb7e-106b5eb7a2d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55e02fe8-2b9d-4ff6-8ee1-944020a52e00","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Ronaldinho assisted Messi’s first senior goal.

[{"selector":"#anim-142065ac-b989-4737-862b-8892190ef50e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c744d32c-413e-44a1-8a1c-f98aa5fc77b6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(108.98203%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b86c8f06-6e1e-4ff5-8b2c-92c911940514","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-608fcba2-b0c6-4674-ac04-333303768e16","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Messi became the youngest player to represent Argentina in this competition.

[{"selector":"#anim-32ad2793-52fe-4532-be9a-f64d0798d8cf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb4daa30-5267-4999-9bdb-17a5b1a1d2ce","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.97605%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-127d0837-ee7a-449b-a18d-b2ac60a4de73","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-355851af-2ec7-4faa-b7e5-a6b73ad0497c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

In his debut match, Messi became the sixth youngest player to score in FIFA World Cup.

[{"selector":"#anim-01b23064-69e5-4f09-be7b-0e248e28459a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3fdad952-242a-40f4-b030-5a5e1746df09","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.67665%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b8150ee-2ec7-4c25-a7c7-e80509e1f98e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-863273b6-8cb8-4bf9-a567-33fecb4f1584","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

At just 20 years old, Messi received the nickname of “Messiah” from the Spanish media after his incredible performances.

[{"selector":"#anim-098c53a6-f7ee-4413-901c-06894c36bc0c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93d038aa-85db-4204-a846-5e3309fc5136","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.07784%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82bd3f85-4d8e-4b05-8560-47798b072e48","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f5a5ce5-5c0f-4ca1-9888-9f636c15107a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]