Lionel Messi - People also ask

Messi currently lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, since joining Inter Miami CF in July 2023. He and his family relocated from Paris, where they had been based during his time at PSG. Before that, Messi lived for most of his life in Barcelona, Spain.

Messi is Argentine, born and raised in Rosario, Argentina. He also holds Spanish nationality, having acquired it during his long residency at FC Barcelona. He represents Argentina internationally and famously captained the Albiceleste to the 2022 World Cup title.

Messi was born on June 24, 1987, making him 37 years old as of mid-2025. He is still actively competing in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, defying the typical retirement timeline for elite footballers.

Messi stands 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) tall. That's below average for a professional footballer, which makes his dominance even more remarkable, he turned what critics once called a physical disadvantage into a weapon, using his low center of gravity for balance and agility.

At age 13, Messi moved from Rosario, Argentina to Barcelona, Spain, after FC Barcelona agreed to fund his growth hormone deficiency treatment, a condition that was stunting his physical development. The club famously offered him a contract reportedly written on a paper napkin. It is one of the most consequential transfers in football history.

At age 11, Messi was notably short for his age, standing around 1.27–1.30 m (roughly 4 ft 2–3 in), which was significantly below the average for boys his age. This was a direct result of his growth hormone deficiency, which Barcelona later agreed to treat after signing him.

Messi's wife is Antonela Roccuzzo, an Argentine from Rosario, his hometown. The two were childhood sweethearts; Antonela is the cousin of Messi's close childhood friend Lucas Scaglia. They married on June 30, 2017, in Rosario in a ceremony dubbed the 'wedding of the century' in Argentina.

Messi and Antonela have three sons: Thiago (born November 2012), Mateo (born September 2015), and Ciro (born March 2018). All three boys have grown up largely in the spotlight, and Thiago in particular has shown footballing talent in youth academies.

Messi's net worth is widely reported in the range of $600 million to over $1 billion depending on the source and the year, though precise figures are not publicly verified. His earnings come from his MLS salary, major endorsement deals (Adidas, Apple TV+, Pepsi, and others), and business investments. Treat any single specific figure as an informed estimate, not a confirmed fact.

Messi is publicly known to be a Roman Catholic, as is common in Argentina. He has been photographed praying on the pitch, has referenced God in interviews, and has been seen wearing religious accessories. He has never made his faith a central public platform, but he has not hidden it either.

Born June 24, 1987, Messi turned 39 on June 24, 2026. He is still playing professional football at Inter Miami in MLS, an age at which most elite players have long since retired.

8 goals and 4 assists, joint top scorer alongside Kylian Mbappé (France). It was Messi's sixth and final World Cup, played at 38-39. Argentina reached the final but lost to Spain 1-0 after extra time on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium. Messi set the all-time men's World Cup scoring record with 21 career goals. Sources: FIFA, ESPN.

After a post-tournament break, Messi returned to Inter Miami's matchday squad for the MLS clash against Columbus Crew on August 2, 2026. He came off the bench at half-time (53rd minute) and the game finished 2-2. He did not score on his return but received a huge ovation from the home crowd. His MLS contract runs through the 2028 season. Sources: ESPN, Al Jazeera.

Antonela Roccuzzo is from Rosario, Argentina, the same city where Messi was born. They grew up in the same social circle and have known each other since childhood, making their relationship one of football's great 'local boy made good' love stories.

Yes. Messi married Antonela Roccuzzo on June 30, 2017, in Rosario, Argentina. The ceremony was attended by dozens of football superstars and became a major global media event. They have been together for far longer than the formal marriage, their relationship dates back to their shared childhood in Rosario.

The premise is wrong, Messi is one of the most beloved athletes on earth. The 'no one likes Messi' angle typically comes from Cristiano Ronaldo fans, some Spanish football ultras, or critics who found his early international Argentina performances underwhelming before 2021–22. Since winning the Copa América in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022, even the most stubborn holdouts have largely come around.

No. As of mid-2025, Messi is not a US citizen. He holds Argentine and Spanish nationalities. Living and working in the US on a professional athlete visa does not automatically confer citizenship, which requires a lengthy residency and naturalization process. There is no publicly confirmed report that he has applied for US citizenship.

Reports circulated, particularly around 2023, that Messi turned down a staggering offer, variously reported as from Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, which allegedly offered a package worth over $1 billion. Messi instead chose Inter Miami for a significantly lower guaranteed salary but a deal reportedly structured with equity stakes in the MLS club, a future role with the league, and an Apple TV+ partnership component. He chose legacy and lifestyle in the US over pure money, which, given his existing wealth, makes sense.

The dominant consensus in football, backed by the raw trophies, individual awards, and statistical records, points to Lionel Messi. Eight Ballon d'Or titles, two World Cup finals (2022 winner, 2026 runner-up with an all-time men's record 21 World Cup goals), multiple Champions Leagues, and the all-time record for international goals for Argentina make the case virtually airtight. Cristiano Ronaldo's fanbase will dispute this forever, and that's their right, but the debate is closer to a philosophical argument than a factual one at this point.

GOAT stands for Greatest Of All Time, and the goat emoji 🐐 is its shorthand symbol. In football, it's used to refer to the single best player ever to play the game. Messi's Inter Miami shirt number (10) and the goat emoji are now practically synonymous in football culture, though the term itself predates him and is used across all sports.

Possibly, but it is not confirmed. Some outlets, including Forbes, have reported Messi crossing or approaching the $1 billion mark in career earnings, but reported earnings are not the same as verified net worth after taxes, spending, and investments. Whether he clears the billion-dollar net worth bar depends on the valuation of his assets, which is not publicly audited. The honest answer: he is in the billionaire conversation, but don't treat any single headline as gospel.

This likely refers to the claim that Messi is the second footballer, after Cristiano Ronaldo, to become a billionaire. Ronaldo was reported by Forbes to have crossed $1 billion in career earnings in 2023. Messi has been reported to be close behind or at a similar threshold, depending on the source. Both figures are estimates of career earnings, not verified net worth statements, so treat 'second billionaire footballer' as a widely circulated claim, not a certified fact.