Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is an Argentine forward widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history. He won eight Ballon d'Or awards, scored more than 800 career goals, and captured virtually every honour the sport offers across a career that began at FC Barcelona in 2004. His titles include ten La Liga championships, four UEFA Champions League titles, and seven Copa del Rey medals at Barcelona, followed by Ligue 1 success at Paris Saint-Germain and MLS titles with Inter Miami. He joined Inter Miami CF in 2023 after a career in Europe.

At international level Messi's story moved from frustration to the sport's highest point. He reached four Copa América finals before winning in 2021, ending Argentina's 28-year trophy drought. In December 2022 he lifted the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, defeating France on penalties in a final regarded as the greatest in the tournament's history. The title completed his collection and settled, for most observers, the question of where he belongs in the sport's history.

For the 2026 World Cup, head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed Messi in Argentina's final 26 on 28 May, sending the 38-year-old captain to a record sixth World Cup appearance, an unprecedented feat in the men's game . It is almost certainly his final international tournament. Argentina enter as defending champions, and their title defence is structured around one question: whether Messi can complete a month of football at tournament intensity aged 38.