Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini( born 24 June 1987)is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains both Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentina national team. Often considered the best player in the world and widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi has won a record six Ballon d'Or awards,and a record six European Golden Shoes.Born and raised in central Argentina, Messi relocated to Spain to join Barcelona at age 13, for whom he made his competitive debut aged 17 in October 2004. He established himself as an integral player for the club within the next three years, and in his first uninterrupted season in 2008–09 he helped Barcelona achieve the first treble in Spanish football; that year, aged 22, Messi won his first Ballon d'Or. Three successful seasons followed, with Messi winning three consecutive Ballons d'Or, making him the first player to win the award four times. During the 2011–12 season, he set the La Liga and European records for most goals scored in a single season, while establishing himself as Barcelona's all-time top scorer. The following two seasons, Messi finished second for the Ballon d'Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo (his perceived career rival), before regaining his best form during the 2014–15 campaign, becoming the all-time top scorer in La Liga and leading Barcelona to a historic second treble, after which he was awarded a fifth Ballon d'Or in 2015. Messi assumed the captaincy of Barcelona in 2018, and in 2019 he secured a record sixth Ballon d'Or.

As a player with good technique, Messi often makes individual dribbles from the center of the field or the right flank towards the team's goal, especially during Barça's counterattacks. Even so, he is also a fairly team player, with good vision, creative passes and coordination, especially with his teammates Xavi and Iniesta. In addition, he has a main kicker and often takes the penalty of the team. When it comes to his dribbling skills, Maradona once said: "The ball is stuck to his feet; During my career I have watched many outstanding players play but no one keeps the ball as well as Messi. " Maradona also said that he believes Messi is the best player in the world right now.