Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time. Born in Rosario, Argentina, he joined FC Barcelona's famous La Masia academy at age 13, going on to score 672 goals in 778 appearances for the club — numbers that may never be surpassed by a single-club player. An unprecedented eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, Messi redefined what is possible with a football at a player's feet.

After leaving Barcelona in 2021, Messi spent two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain before joining Inter Miami CF in MLS in 2023. Rather than winding down, he has continued to produce extraordinary numbers in the USA, winning the Leagues Cup in his debut season and regularly putting up goal contributions that rival his Barcelona peak on a per-game basis. At 37, he remains the most technically gifted player in the league.

Did you know? Messi scored or assisted over 1,200 goals across all competitions in his professional career, more than any player in football history. He also holds the record for the most goals in a single calendar year — 91 in 2012 — and is the all-time top scorer for the Argentina national team with 109 international goals, having finally captured the World Cup in Qatar 2022 to complete his legendary career.