Lionel Messi, arguably one of the best players of all-time, turns 38. The Argentine great has had an inimitable career that has spanned over two decades. His professional career started in 2004 with FC Barcelona, for which he dedicated 17 years of his career. He then went on to play for Paris-Sanit Germain for two years, from 2021 to 2023. Afterwards, Messi parted ways with the French side and signed for David Beckham’s Inter Miami, where he plies his trade. Most recently, he played in a 2-2 draw against Brazilian side Palmeiras, which means that Inter Miami will play PSG in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup. This also meant that Messi maintained his record of never being eliminated in the group stage of a tournament in his career, neither for club or country. In a career littered with trophies and individual accolades, his numbers are almost mythical. With 672 goals for Barcelona, Messi holds the record for the most goals scored by a player for a single club—an achievement unlikely to be matched in modern football, where players rarely stay put at a single club. His 474 La Liga goals and 192 assists stand as all-time league records, testament to his unmatched consistency and creativity over nearly two decades in Spain. Beyond club level, Messi’s trophy cabinet gleams with personal accolades. He’s won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, each cementing his dominance through eras and rivals. On the international stage, the narrative arc came full circle when he lifted the Copa América twice—first in 2021 and then in 2024 – breaking Argentina’s drought.
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In between the two came the crowning jewel, in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. At 35, Messi orchestrated a campaign delivering performances that deserved to win any tournament. His World Cup triumph not only fulfilled a personal dream but also etched his name alongside the greatest moments in Argentina’s sporting history, right next to Diego Maradona’s 1986 heroics. Today, at 38, Messi continues to defy age. His most recent free-kick goal against Porto in the group stage a few days is testament to his timelessness.
Lionel Messi’s major records and milestones
- 672 goals for Barcelona (all-time record)
- 474 LaLiga goals scored (all-time record)
- 192 LaLiga assists (all-time record)
- 8 Ballon d’Or awards (most all-time)
- 10 La Liga titles (second-most all-time)
- 46 career trophies (most decorated player of all-time)
- 866 career goals
- 384 career assists
