Ageless Magician Messi Turns 39

Today marks the 39th birthday of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, widely considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time.

The Rosario-born forward is most closely associated with Barcelona, where he is arguably the club's greatest legend. Over 16 seasons with the first team, Messi amassed 778 appearances, scoring 672 goals and providing 303 assists. During this period, he led Barça to an incredible 34 trophies, including four Champions League titles, ten La Liga titles, and seven Copa del Rey triumphs.

Following his time at Barcelona, "La Pulga" spent two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, where he contributed 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 matches, winning two French championships. He now plays for Inter Miami, where he has so far featured in 104 games, scoring 90 goals and providing 51 assists. Last year, the Argentine led the team to their historic first Major League Soccer title.

Messi has also achieved remarkable success with his national team. He holds undisputed records for appearances (201), goals (122), and assists (64) for his country, which he captains. In 2022, he led Argentina to the World Cup title, having also won the Copa América twice.

Individually, the veteran boasts countless accolades and records. His most prestigious awards include eight Ballon d'Or trophies and six European Golden Shoes. He has also been named the best player at the World Cup twice – in 2014 and 2022. Just two days ago, Messi became the sole record holder for most goals in World Cup history with 18 strikes.