Lionel Messi will forever be known as one of the greatest footballers of all time. 

The Argentinian is an icon of the game and ever since he burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old, he has been one of the best players in the world. 

Messi finally won the World Cup in Qatar 2022Getty

Messi has scored the second most goals ever while also sitting behind legend Pele as one of the best playmakers in the history of the sport. 

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s achievements throughout his career are staggering and he topped it all off by finally winning the World Cup in 2022 and following it up with a second Copa America in 2024.

He now plays his football in the United States with Inter Miami and he continues to justify his ‘GOAT’ status, as he massively impacts the game on and off the pitch in the States. 

Here is a full breakdown of Messi’s career record so far…

Early career 

Messi began his football career in his hometown of Rosario as he played for Newell’s Old Boys from the age of six. 

However, his career almost came to a devastating end at 10 years old as he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. 

Teams were put off signing him but Barcelona took the risk after a trial and paid for his treatment before he would go on to rise up the youth ranks at the iconic La Masia academy. 

Messi played over 30 games for Barca’s B and C teams before breaking into the first team as a teenager and never looking back. 

Messi’s size never held him backGetty Images – Getty

Barcelona 

Simply put, Messi is a Barcelona icon. 

The 36-year-old played a total of 778 games for the club in all competitions and scored a whopping 672 goals across 19 seasons. 

That record made him Barca’s all-time top goalscorer and he will forever be remembered as their greatest ever player. 

While at the club, he broke the record for the most goals in a calendar year with 91 while also setting a new La Liga record with 50 goals in a season. 

Messi won 41 trophies in total with the Spanish giants, including 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues. 

Unfortunately, things started to turn sour with Barcelona suffering financially, and he reluctantly left the club in 2021, sobbing as he confirmed his exit. 

Messi is Barcelona’s greatest playerGetty

Paris Saint-Germain 

Messi would go on to join Paris Saint-Germain as he formed a formidable trio, reuniting with Neymar and playing alongside Kylian Mbappe. 

His first season in France was a struggle as he tried to adapt to a new team for the first time in his career. 

The Argentina superstar scored six goals and provided 14 assists in 26 games in Ligue 1 during the 2021/22 season while he netted in five goals in seven in Europe. 

He would end up settling and hitting some of his best form once again in the next season, scoring and assisting 16 goals in 32 games. 

Messi scored his 700th career goal while at PSG before overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo as the all-time highest goalscorer in European club football. 

However, he would go on to get banned by the club for two weeks after missing a training session to travel to Saudi Arabia. 

That seemed to put a dampener on a good season and after the French side won the league title, Messi announced he would be leaving. 

Messi ended up having a short stint in FranceAFP

Inter Miami 

Messi was linked to a return to Barcelona following his PSG exit while he also turned down a record-breaking deal to head to Saudi Arabia. 

He instead decided to join MLS side Inter Miami, owned by David Beckham. 

The legend has made a monstrous impact to the sport in the USA, with the ‘GOAT’ attracting fans from all around the country to watch him play. 

He scored nine goals in his first six games for the club and helped them lift the Leagues Cup only weeks after signing. 

Unfortunately, his first half season in America was hampered by injury, meaning he found the net just once and provided two assists in six MLS matches, as Inter Miami failed to make the play-offs.

The introduction of former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez at Vice City at the start of the 2024 campaign has certainly boosted Messi, who has now notched 20 goals in just 19 league games.

Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or at Inter MiamiGetty Images

Argentina 

On the international stage, Messi’s goalscoring has been equally as stunning. 

He has made a total of 189 appearances for his country, scoring 112 goals and providing 60 assists. 

That makes Messi Argentina’s all-time goalscorer by a long way as he sits over 50 goals above Gabriel Batistuta.

His first international trophy was the U20 World Cup before he also picked up an Olympic gold medal in 2008.

It was then a wait of over a decade before Argentina won the Copa America.

The ultimate crown came in 2022 though, as the icon was able to lift the World Cup for the first time at the age of 35. 

Messi stepped up in Qatar at what is likely to be his last-ever appearance at the tournament, scoring seven goals which included two in a thrilling final against France. 

And his achievements with La Seleccion have not stopped there, having now lifted a second Copa America after leading his national side to victory in the competition’s 2024 instalment.

On a personal note, a recent hat-trick in a 6-0 win over Bolivia ensured that he matched Cristiano Ronaldo‘s international record of ten trebles, and despite being 37, he’s showing no signs of slowing down.