Lionel Messi Celebrates 37th Birthday: A Journey of Records and Triumphs

Legendary Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, often called the ‘greatest footballer of all time’, celebrates his 37th birthday. Born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1987, Messi recently won his eighth Ballon d’Or, setting a new record. The next player is Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won five Ballon d’Or awards.

Early Life and Career

At the age of 13, Messi’s family moved to Barcelona, where the club helped him treat his growth hormone deficiency. He began his career with FC Barcelona’s U14 squad and made his senior debut at 17 against Espanyol. Messi played for Barcelona for 17 years, winning 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions League crowns, and 7 Copa del Rey medals. He scored 474 goals in La Liga, making him the league’s all-time top scorer.

Memorable Moments

In 2007, Messi emulated Diego Maradona’s ‘goal of the century’ by dribbling past six defenders to score against Getafe. In 2009, he won his first UEFA Champions League title, scoring a header in the final against Manchester United. In 2020, Messi broke Pele’s record for most goals scored for a single club by netting his 644th goal for Barcelona.

Recent Career

Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, scoring 22 goals in 58 games. In 2023, he moved to Inter Miami, where he has scored 13 goals in 18 matches so far.

International Success

Messi made his international debut in 2005 and won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2021, he won the Copa America, and in 2022, he led Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in the final against France.