Lionel Messi reached the impressive milestone of 1,000 career games for club and country. We’ve looked back at his magical career leading up to this game.
The legendary Messi scored on his 1,000 game against Australia, taking his total to 789 goals in his career so far.
🇦🇷 Messi now has 789 goals in 1,000 games in his career 🤯#UCL pic.twitter.com/pTEcHrlwyc
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 3, 2022
Early Years
Messi joined his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys at the age of six. During the six years at their youth clubs, Messi scored almost 500 goals. Messi joined Spanish giants, Barcelona, at 13 years old. Barça paid for Messi’s growth hormone treatment, something that hampered a move to River Plate when he was younger.
Messi made his Barça debut aged just 17-years-old. His debut came after several of the senior players requested the young man got moved into the main team.
Ludovic Giuly explained how a teenage Leo caught the eye in a training session with Frank Rijkaard’s first team:
“He destroyed us all… They were kicking him all over the place to avoid being ridiculed by this kid, he just got up and kept on playing. He would dribble past four players and score a goal. Even the team’s starting centre-backs were nervous. He was an alien.”
Within a year of making his debut for Barça, Messi was showing talent on the international stage for Argentina. Messi made his senior debut for Argentina against Hungary in a friendly. Messi was sent off within a few minutes after his introduction following a clash with a defender.
Number 10 Shirt
After Ronaldinho left Barça, Messi was given the famous number ten shirt by the club.
In the 2008–09 season, he scored 38 goals in 51 games. His goals contributed to 100 goals in all competitions in that season for Barça.
The goals that season led to Barça winning the treble.
The following season Messi claimed awards at an individual level. At 22 years old, Messi won the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year award, both times by the biggest voting margin in each trophy’s history.
Record Breaking Season
One for breaking records all throughout his career, Messi set a record that looks unbeatable.
In the calendar year of 2012, Messi scored 91 goals for both club and country in that year. He also went on to secure his 4th Ballon d’Or.
1,000 Games
After an emotional departure from Barça, Messi joined French giants PSG. It was a slow start, but he quickly found his feet in France.
Rather fittingly Messi made it 1,000 appearances for club and country during this year’s World Cup.
Many see a World Cup win as the best way to finish his career. In the eyes of many, it will make him the greatest player of all time.
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