Key Facts

Lionel Messi

Date of birth: 24.06.1987
Nationality: Argentina
Current club: Inter Miami CF
Position: Right Winger / Second Striker
Height: 1.70m
Current market value: €13m
Represented by: Family / Messi management team
Main agent: Not publicly confirmed
Reported salary: $25m gross per year
Contract expires: 31.12.2028

About

Lionel Messi is an Argentine forward who plays for Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer. Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, he is an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and combines elite playmaking, dribbling and finishing with an exceptional ability to control matches from attacking positions.

Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain and immediately transformed the sporting and commercial profile of the club and MLS. He captained Miami to the Leagues Cup in his first season and later extended his contract through the end of the 2028 MLS campaign.

His club career was defined primarily by more than two decades with Barcelona, where he became the club's all-time leading goalscorer and won ten La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies. He subsequently spent two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain before moving to the United States.

At international level, Messi captained Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, two Copa América titles and the Finalissima. He also led Argentina to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final before announcing his retirement from international football in August 2026. A farewell appearance with Argentina was subsequently arranged for October 2026.

Representation

• Representation: Family / Messi management structure

• Main representative: Not publicly confirmed

• Long-time former agent: Jorge Messi

• Commercial and business management: Handled through Messi's family and dedicated management companies

• Jurisdiction: International

• FIFA licence status: No new individual football agent publicly confirmed following Jorge Messi's death

• Previous representation structure: Jorge Messi acted as Lionel Messi's long-term agent and principal negotiator

Messi's representation structure has historically been unusual compared with most elite footballers. Rather than relying on a major external football agency, his father Jorge Messi acted as his principal representative for the majority of his career.

Jorge was closely involved in virtually every major contractual decision, from Messi's years at Barcelona through his moves to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. He also played a central role in managing the wider business interests surrounding his son's career.

Jorge Messi died in August 2026 at the age of 68. Since his death, a new individual football agent has not been publicly confirmed as Lionel Messi's principal representative, with his family and established management structure continuing to oversee his affairs.

Career timeline

• 1995: Joined Newell's Old Boys' youth system

• 2000: Moved to Barcelona and entered La Masia

• October 2004: Made his competitive Barcelona first-team debut

• May 2005: Scored his first senior Barcelona goal

• August 2005: Made his senior international debut for Argentina

• 2005: Won the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Argentina

• 2005/06: Won his first UEFA Champions League title

• 2008: Won Olympic gold with Argentina

• 2008/09: Helped Barcelona win the historic treble

• 2009: Won his first Ballon d'Or

• 2010: Won a second consecutive Ballon d'Or

• 2011: Won another Champions League and Ballon d'Or

• 2012: Scored a record 91 goals for club and country during the calendar year

• 2012: Won a fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or

• 2015: Won another Barcelona treble and fifth Ballon d'Or

• 2019: Won his sixth Ballon d'Or

• 2021: Helped Argentina win the Copa América

• 2021: Left Barcelona and joined Paris Saint-Germain

• 2021: Won his seventh Ballon d'Or

• 2022: Won the Finalissima with Argentina

• December 2022: Captained Argentina to victory at the FIFA World Cup

• 2023: Won a record eighth Ballon d'Or

• July 2023: Joined Inter Miami

• 2023: Captained Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup

• 2024: Helped Argentina win a second consecutive Copa América

• 2024: Helped Inter Miami win the Supporters' Shield

• October 2025: Signed a new Inter Miami contract through the 2028 MLS season

• 2026: Captained Argentina to the FIFA World Cup final

• August 2026: Announced his retirement from international football

• September 2026: Continued as Inter Miami captain and one of MLS's leading attacking players

Transfer history

• 2000 – Newell's Old Boys to FC Barcelona academy – Youth transfer

• 2004 – Barcelona academy to first team – Promoted to the senior squad

• 2021 – FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain – Free transfer – Two-year contract

• 2023 – Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami CF – Free transfer – Initial agreement through 2025

• 2025 – Inter Miami contract extension – New agreement through December 2028

Messi spent virtually his entire European prime with Barcelona. His departure in 2021 came after the club was unable to register a new contract under La Liga's financial regulations, leading to his free transfer to PSG.

After two seasons in France, Messi chose Inter Miami ahead of other options in Europe and Saudi Arabia. The move became one of the most significant signings in MLS history and had a major commercial impact on both Inter Miami and the league.

His 2025 extension secured him through the end of the 2028 MLS season, potentially keeping him in professional football beyond his 41st birthday.

Playing profile

Messi's role has evolved considerably throughout his career. He developed as a right winger before becoming a false nine, central creator and eventually a free attacking playmaker capable of operating between midfield and attack.

His left foot remains the foundation of his game. Messi can progress possession through close control, deliver line-breaking passes and finish accurately from both inside and outside the penalty area.

His dribbling is built around extraordinary balance, body control and rapid changes of direction rather than purely straight-line speed. Even later in his career, he remains capable of eliminating defenders in tight spaces.

Messi's vision is equally important. He regularly drops into deeper positions to receive possession before finding runners through defensive lines with disguised passes, through balls and switches of play.

As his physical output has declined with age, his game has become increasingly focused on efficiency. He conserves energy without possession before identifying moments to accelerate, create or arrive in scoring positions.

Set pieces remain another major weapon. Messi is one of the most prolific direct free-kick scorers of his generation and continues to provide a significant threat from dead-ball situations.

Key strengths

• Elite vision and creativity

• Exceptional close control

• Left-footed finishing

• Through balls and disguised passes

• Dribbling in tight spaces

• Match-tempo manipulation

• Direct free kicks

• Long-range shooting

• Combination play

• Final-third decision-making

• Penalty-area finishing

• Leadership and experience