On June 24th, Lionel Messi, the unparalleled football great and Argentina’s modern-day king of the pitch, celebrates his 37th birthday. Messi’s career has been a dreamlike journey, consistently redefining the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) status.
Statistics show that Messi has played 1,065 matches, scored 837 goals, provided 373 assists, won 8 Ballon d’Or awards, and collected an impressive 44 titles in total.
Notably, Messi is also a World Cup champion, having won the title once and twice as the World Cup Golden Ball recipient. In the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Messi virtually single-handedly propelled his team to the championship, securing the most significant title of his career.
Reflecting on Messi’s Barcelona years, he left behind a legacy of 10 La Liga titles, 4 UEFA Champions League victories, 7 Copa del Rey triumphs, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 3 Club World Cups, and 3 UEFA Super Cups.
In 2021, Messi joined French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), securing 2 Ligue 1 championships and a Super Cup in two seasons. In June 2023, Messi moved to Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami, where he continues to shine, defying age in the world of football.
For the Argentine national team, Messi has made 183 appearances, scoring 108 goals and providing 58 assists. Currently, he is playing in the 2024 Copa América, now the competition’s all-time leader in appearances with 35 games. Every match he plays sets a new record and adds to his storied history.
In this Copa América, Messi has the opportunity to guide Argentina in pursuit of a back-to-back title. If they win, the Albiceleste will secure their 16th Copa América victory, surpassing Uruguay’s record of 15 titles.
Today also marks the 46th birthday of Argentine soccer legend Juan Román Riquelme, affectionately known as Messi’s big brother. We pay tribute to this classic attacking midfielder whose “one-stop, one-turn, one-pass” would often dismantle opponents’ defenses, making the game magical with every touch.
On Messi’s 37th birthday and Riquelme’s 46th, what message would you like to convey to them? And in this Copa América, can Messi lead Argentina to championship success?