The year he turned 17, he made his competitive debut for Barcelona in the derby against Espanyol.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 18, he scored his first goal for the club, against Albacete, as the youngest player to score a league goal for Barcelona. He scored both penalties in the World Youth Championship final as Argentina beat Nigeria 2–1, and he finished as top scorer and top player. He made his senior debut for Argentina that August and was sent off two minutes after coming on.
The year he turned 19, he was man of the match in Barcelona’s Champions League win at Chelsea, and Diego Maradona hailed him as his successor. He scored in Argentina’s 6–0 World Cup win over Serbia and Montenegro. The year he turned 21, he won the Olympic gold medal with Argentina. The year he turned 22, he headed in the second goal in the Champions League final win over Manchester United. In December he scored the winner in the Club World Cup final.
The year he turned 23, he finished as the Champions League’s top scorer for the second season running. The year he turned 24, he scored in Barcelona’s 3–1 win over Manchester United in the Champions League final. The year he turned 25, he received his third straight Ballon d’Or. The year he turned 26, he won a fourth straight Ballon d’Or, after scoring 91 goals in 2012.
The year he turned 27, Argentina lost the World Cup final to Germany in extra time, and he received the Golden Ball. In November he passed Telmo Zarra’s La Liga scoring record. The year he turned 28, Barcelona beat Juventus in the Champions League final to complete a treble. The year he turned 29, he won a fifth Ballon d’Or. After Argentina lost the Copa América final to Chile, he said his national team career was over. In July, a Spanish court found him guilty of tax fraud.
The year he turned 30, he married in Rosario and scored a hat trick against Ecuador that sent Argentina to the World Cup. The year he turned 31, he scored in Barcelona’s 5–0 Copa del Rey final win over Sevilla. The year he turned 32, he was La Liga’s top scorer for the sixth time. The year he turned 33, he told Barcelona he wanted to leave.
The year he turned 34, he won the Copa América, his first major title with Argentina’s senior team. He signed with Paris Saint-Germain that August and won a seventh Ballon d’Or in November. The year he turned 35, he scored twice in the World Cup final as Argentina beat France on penalties.
The year he turned 36, he won Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain, signed with Inter Miami in July, won the Leagues Cup in August and won an eighth Ballon d’Or in October. The year he turned 37, Argentina won the Copa América again, and Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield with two goals from him in the clincher.
The year he turned 38, he won the MLS Cup with Inter Miami, was named MLS MVP for the second straight year and extended his contract into 2028. The year he turned 39, he became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. Argentina lost the final to Spain, and in August he announced his retirement from international football.
Lionel Messi (born Jun 24, 1987) debuted for Barcelona on Oct 16, 2004, the year he turned 17, and became known in 2005, the year he turned 18, when he led Argentina to the World Youth Championship on Jul 2, 2005. He won the World Cup on Dec 18, 2022, the year he turned 35.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Made his competitive debut for Barcelona in the derby against Espanyol, just under a year after his first senior friendly, against Porto.
Source 01 · UEFA.com · Lionel Messi, the new Maradona? · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Wikipedia · Lionel Messi · opens in a new tab Date from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.Scored against Albacete and became the youngest player to score a league goal for Barcelona.
Source 01 · UEFA.com · Lionel Messi, the new Maradona? · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Wikipedia · Lionel Messi · opens in a new tab Date from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.Scored both penalties in the 2–1 final against Nigeria and ended the tournament as top scorer with six goals. FIFA.com named him the tournament’s top player and reported comparisons to Diego Maradona.
Made his senior debut for Argentina in a friendly against Hungary. He came on as a substitute and was sent off two minutes later.
Source 06 · BBC Sport · Maradona hails Messi as successor · opens in a new tabSource 01 · UEFA.com · Lionel Messi, the new Maradona? · opens in a new tab Month from BBC Sport and UEFA.com; the day is not given in the sources.Was man of the match in Barcelona’s 2–1 Champions League win at Chelsea. Diego Maradona then hailed him as his successor.
Source 04 · FIFA.com · The new messiah · opens in a new tabSource 06 · BBC Sport · Maradona hails Messi as successor · opens in a new tabSource 47 · ESPN · Chelsea 1–2 Barcelona, Feb. 22, 2006 · opens in a new tab FIFA.com dates the match Feb. 23; ESPN’s match page gives Feb. 22, 2006.Came on as a substitute, crossed for Hernán Crespo’s goal and scored Argentina’s sixth.
Source 07 · BBC Sport · Argentina 6–0 Serbia & Montenegro · opens in a new tabArgentina won the men’s football tournament at the Beijing Games.
Source 08 · USA Today · The 10 best moments of Messi’s Argentina career · opens in a new tabSource 09 · Wikipedia · Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men’s tournament · opens in a new tab Final date from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.Headed in Xavi’s cross for the second goal of Barcelona’s 2–0 win over Manchester United in Rome.
Source 10 · BBC Sport · Barcelona 2–0 Man Utd · opens in a new tabHis goal in the 110th minute gave Barcelona a 2–1 win over Estudiantes in Abu Dhabi, the club’s sixth trophy of the season.
Source 11 · BBC Sport · Barcelona beat Estudiantes to win the Club World Cup · opens in a new tabScored eight goals in 11 appearances in 2009/10, one more than Ivica Olić and Cristiano Ronaldo, and led the competition for the second season running.
Source 12 · UEFA.com · Messi takes scoring plaudits · opens in a new tab Date of UEFA.com’s report.Scored Barcelona’s second goal in a 3–1 win over Manchester United in the Champions League final.
Source 13 · BBC Sport · Barcelona 3–1 Man Utd · opens in a new tabReceived the FIFA Ballon d’Or ahead of Xavi Hernández and Cristiano Ronaldo. He was the first man to win three straight FIFA world player awards.
Source 14 · FOX Sports · Messi wins third straight POTY award · opens in a new tabWon the award with 41.6% of the vote, ahead of Ronaldo and Andrés Iniesta. He had scored 91 goals in 2012, passing Gerd Müller’s calendar-year record.
Source 15 · The Independent · Messi wins fourth straight Ballon d’Or · opens in a new tabSource 16 · Wikipedia · 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or · opens in a new tab Ceremony date from Wikipedia; not confirmed in news reports.Argentina lost 1–0 in extra time. Messi received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
Source 17 · The Guardian · World Cup final 2014: Germany v Argentina · opens in a new tabSource 18 · BBC Sport · World Cup final: Messi named best player · opens in a new tabA hat trick in a 5–1 win over Sevilla took him to 253 La Liga goals, two more than Zarra’s 251, a record since 1955.
Source 19 · BBC Sport · Messi will leave “unreachable” record · opens in a new tabBarcelona beat Juventus 3–1 in Berlin. Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar combined for 122 goals that season, and the club added the Champions League to its league and cup titles.
Source 20 · The New York Times · Barcelona overwhelms Juventus · opens in a new tabWon the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the fifth time.
Source 21 · FIFA.com · Messi, Lloyd, Luis Enrique and Ellis triumph at FIFA Ballon d’Or 2015 · opens in a new tabArgentina lost 4–2 on penalties to Chile after a 0–0 draw. Messi said after the match that his career with the national team was over.
Source 22 · ESPN · Messi retires from Argentina after Copa América final loss · opens in a new tabA court in Barcelona found him guilty of three counts of tax fraud. He received a 21-month prison sentence, which was suspended, and was ordered to pay a fine of €1.7 million.
Source 23 · Sports Illustrated · Messi given 21-month sentence for tax fraud · opens in a new tabMarried his childhood sweetheart in a civil ceremony in Rosario with 260 guests.
Source 24 · BBC News · Argentina hosts Messi’s wedding · opens in a new tabScored three goals in a 3–1 win over Ecuador in Quito after Argentina fell behind in the first minute, securing one of the automatic qualifying places.
Source 25 · The Guardian · Messi hat trick secures Argentina’s passage to World Cup · opens in a new tab The Reuters report is dated Oct. 11, 2017, 02.44 BST; the record uses the local match date in Quito.Scored the second goal in Barcelona’s 5–0 win over Sevilla, his 40th of the season, as the club won the cup for a fourth straight year.
Source 26 · BBC Sport · Sevilla 0–5 Barcelona · opens in a new tabScored twice in a 2–2 draw at Eibar to reach 50 goals in all competitions for the season, and finished as the league’s top scorer with 36 goals.
Source 27 · AP News · Messi hits 50 goals for Barca · opens in a new tabSent the club a document saying he wanted to leave. Barcelona said it wanted him to stay and would not automatically grant his request.
Source 28 · AP News · Messi tells Barca he wants to leave · opens in a new tabBarcelona beat Athletic Club in the final. It was Messi’s 35th trophy with the club, the most by any Barcelona player, according to the club.
Source 29 · FC Barcelona · Messi wins 35th trophy with Barça · opens in a new tabArgentina beat Brazil 1–0 in the final in Rio de Janeiro. It was Messi’s first major title with Argentina’s senior team.
Source 30 · The New York Times · Messi wins first title with Argentina · opens in a new tabSigned a two-year contract with an option for a third. Barcelona, the only club he had played for, could not afford a new deal under La Liga’s financial rules, BBC Sport reported.
Source 31 · BBC Sport · Messi signs two-year PSG deal · opens in a new tabWon the Ballon d’Or ahead of Robert Lewandowski, with 40 goals in 2021 for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina.
Source 32 · BBC Sport · Messi wins Ballon d’Or for seventh time · opens in a new tabScored twice in the final as Argentina beat France on penalties. He won the Golden Ball, the first player to win it twice, after seven goals in seven games.
Source 18 · BBC Sport · World Cup final: Messi named best player · opens in a new tabScored against Strasbourg as the club clinched its 11th Ligue 1 title. It was his 496th goal in Europe’s top five leagues, one more than Ronaldo’s 495.
Source 33 · CNN · Messi breaks Cristiano Ronaldo record as PSG wins Ligue 1 title · opens in a new tabInter Miami announced that it had signed Messi through the 2025 MLS season.
Source 34 · MLSsoccer.com · Official! Messi signs with Inter Miami · opens in a new tabMiami beat Nashville SC 10–9 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. Messi scored in the 23rd minute.
Source 35 · USA Today · Inter Miami defeats Nashville, Messi wins Leagues Cup · opens in a new tabWon the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time, ahead of Erling Haaland.
Source 36 · BBC Sport · Messi wins eighth Ballon d’Or · opens in a new tabArgentina beat Colombia 1–0 for a record 16th Copa América title. Messi watched much of the second half and extra time from the bench because of a leg injury.
Source 37 · AP News · Argentina wins record 16th Copa América title · opens in a new tabScored twice in a 3–2 win at Columbus that secured the Shield. It was his 46th major trophy with club and country, the AP reported.
Source 38 · AP News · Messi, Inter Miami win MLS Supporters’ Shield · opens in a new tabScored his first MLS hat trick in a 6–2 win over New England. Inter Miami finished with 74 points, the most in MLS history.
Source 39 · AP News · Messi and Inter Miami finish with best record in MLS history · opens in a new tabSigned a new contract that extends his stay in MLS into 2028.
Source 40 · Sports Illustrated · Inter Miami announce Messi contract renewal · opens in a new tabProvided two assists in a 3–1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, the club’s first MLS Cup. He was named MLS Cup MVP.
Source 41 · ESPN · Messi leads Miami past Vancouver to first MLS Cup title · opens in a new tabBecame the first player in league history to win the award in consecutive seasons, after 29 goals and 19 assists in 28 matches.
Source 42 · MLSsoccer.com · Messi repeats as Landon Donovan MLS MVP · opens in a new tabScored in a 1–1 draw with Nashville SC, becoming the second men’s player to reach 900 goals in official matches.
Source 43 · ESPN · Messi scores 900th goal · opens in a new tabScored twice in Argentina’s 2–0 Group J win over Austria to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
Source 44 · Reuters · Messi breaks World Cup scoring record · opens in a new tabArgentina lost 1–0. Messi finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists.
Source 45 · NPR · Spain is the 2026 World Cup champion · opens in a new tabAnnounced his retirement from the national team in an Instagram post. He left as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 125 goals in 207 games.
Source 46 · ESPN · Messi called up for Oct. 6 Argentina friendly · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2004–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
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Sports · Argentina
Jun 24, 1987 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1987: the year of the event minus 1987, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.30 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.