When Did Messi Start Playing Soccer? Get the Facts Here!

When talking about football, the most attractive sport on the planet, no one is unaware of Lionel Messi. He is currently one of the greatest players of all time.

Instead of possessing a tall physique like many other players, this 1.69m tall player has extremely skilled skills, which helped him to receive 7 Golden Balls, 6 times win the European Golden Shoe and many other remarkable achievements.

So when did Messi start playing soccer? Let’s explore!

When Did Messi Start Playing Soccer?

Lionel Messi began playing soccer in 1995

Lionel Messi began playing soccer in 1995 when he joined the youth team of Newell’s Old Boys. At the time, he was just an eight-year-old boy.

Messi’s skills have garnered the attention of famous clubs on both sides of the Atlantic. When he was 13 years old, he and his family relocated to Barcelona, and he started playing for the under-14 team of FC Barcelona.

This player has scored twenty-one goals in fourteen matches for the junior team, making him quickly graduate through the higher-level teams. At the age of 16, Messi was given his informal debut with FC Barcelona in one friendly match.

After that, his professional football career went as smoothly as the wind due to his talent.

How Many Goals Did Messi Score?

Lionel Messi will undoubtedly be a legend, comparable to Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, or Pele, right after he retires. In addition to his unique skill, the number of goals he has ever scored is also impressive.

Goals For Barcelona

Goals For Paris Saint-Germain

Goals For Argentina National Team

All Messi’s Goals

FAQs

Leo Messi and Ronaldo

How Old Is Leo Messi?

Leo Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. So, the player is now 35 years old.

When Did Messi Make His UEFA  Champions League Debut?

This Argentina star made the UEFA Champions League debut as a substitute against Shakhtar Donetsk on December 2004

When Did Leo Messi Make the Senior Team Debut?

Leo Messi made his senior team debut at the age of 17 in a La Liga match against Espanyol in October 2004. Not only did he make his professional debut, but this player also became the youngest player to represent Barcelona in one official competition.

When Did Leo Messi Join The Barcelona Club?

Messi’s family has relatives in Catalonia who managed to arrange a trial for him.  In late 2000, negotiations materialized, and Charly Rexach, the first-team director, delivered Messi a contract.

Early the following year, Messi and his entire family moved to Barcelona as he entered La Masia, the club’s youth academy.

When Did Leo Messi Score His First Professional Goal?

Messi scored his 1st professional goal in the match against Albacete, making him the youngest-ever player for the club.

 How Many Golden Balls Does Messi Have?

Messi holds the record of 7 Ballon d’Or wins.

Considered the best player in the world and one of the greatest football players of all time, Messi holds the record of 7 Ballon d’Or wins and  6 European Golden Shoe winners.

How rich is Lionel Messi?

With a reported fortune of $600 million, Leo Messi is considered the richest football player in the world, beating Ronaldo’s net worth by a staggering $100 million. 

This player continues to gain a record-breaking salary with his new club,  Paris St. Germaine (PSD).

Which Brands Does Lionel Messi Represent?

Like Ronaldo, the number of advertising contracts that Messi owns is too many to list, but the most notable is still the brand of shoes he is wearing.

The fierce competition between Ronaldo and Messi lies not only on the football field but also in the two world-famous sports brands: Nike (Ronaldo) and Adidas (Messi).

After Ronaldo signed a long-term contract with Nike in 2016 (rumored it was a lifetime deal worth an estimated $1 billion, similar to the contract between Nike and LeBron James), Messi also did the same thing with Adidas.

The detailed terms of the contract have not been announced, but according to some information in Spain, the contract between the two parties will last for the rest of the Argentine star’s career.

Messi also represents other famous brands such as Pepsi, Turkish Airlines, and Gillette.

What Charities Does Lionel Messi Participate In?

Messi founded a charity named The Leo Messi. On his wedding day to longtime girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo, he urged people to donate to the fund instead of giving expensive wedding gifts.

Messi’s charity objects are mainly children because he wants them to have a better life. The Leo Messi Foundation raises money for medical research activities, helping medical facilities in Argentina, Spain, etc.

In 2010, he became an Ambassador of UNICEF, after a long time working with this organization since 2004.

How big is Messi’s total fortune?

According to estimates, his total net worth at the moment is about 400 million USD. Yet, this number is probably only for reference. The amount of money this player gets from the business is often not widely publicized in the media.

The Bottom Line

As we can see, Leo Messi has been hooked on soccer since he was very young. Thanks to his skill and passion for this sport, he has become one of the most famous people on the planet.