Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi ( Spanish pronunciation: [ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesi] ; born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team . He serves as the captain of his country's national football team. By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2009, he won his first Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. He followed this up by winning the inaugural FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010 , and then again in 2011 & 2012 . He also won the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award . At the age of 24, Messi became Barcelona's all-time top scorer in all official club competitions. At age 25, Messi became the youngest player to score 200 La Liga goals. Widely recognised as the best player in the world and rated by some commentators, coaches and players as the greatest footb...