Alliance with the Leo Messi Foundation

Alliance with the Leo Messi Foundation

The collaboration agreement with the FC Barcelona Foundation promotes and uses sport as a tool for the development and social integration of Argentine children and young people.

The signing of the agreement aims to encourage joint work for the children and young people in the areas of Argentina most affected by poverty.

The aim of both foundations is to promote the education, health, sport and development of the most disadvantaged areas of the country.

Argentina 3 Uruguay 0 Messi crucial

Argentina 3 Uruguay 0 Messi crucial

Messi led Argentina from the first minute of play.

Despite having good chances to score in the first half but the goalkeeper Muslera always save.

In the second half  Leo Messi scored two goals, one from a free kick and another finalizing a great move from Di Maria.

Messi also had a important role in Kun Agüero goal.

Messi - I'm the happiest man in the world

Messi - I'm the happiest man in the world

Lionel Messi has revealed in social network 'Facebook', that he's very happy with the birth of his son, Thiago Messi.

"Today I am the happiest man in the world, my son has born. Thank God for this gift! Thanks for the support I received from my family. Hugs for everyone, "stated Messi in his Facebook account.

Thiago Messi was born in the Hospital USP Dexeus in Barcelona today.

Lionel Messi gave an exclusive interview to 'ESPN'

Lionel Messi gave an exclusive interview to 'ESPN'

Lionel Messi give an exclusive interview to 'ESPN' in which he had words of praise for Pep Guardiola, who he said was the head of the Barcelona conquered 14 of the 19 titles that chose the four campaigns he held the Barcelona bench. "It was important from the beginning, because we came from two years getting nothing, had a team that was bad moral, sad and he changed everything, his confidence, his desire, his way of working."

Questioned about the objectives for the season that has just begun, Messi admitted that although last year scored in all competitions he played for Barcelona 73 goals, would rather "make fewer goals and win more titles, but at the level of goals that was a unforgettable season  ".

"For me, hopefully this is similar, but I do not get any targets or think in a number" added the Argentinian star, who nonetheless stressed "that the more goals score, the better, and the more titles wins , much better."

Lionel Messi top scorer in La Liga

Lionel Messi top scorer in La Liga

This season, Lionel Messi is the top scorer in La Liga with 15 goals in 11 games. Also, Messi is more decisive away from home than at Camp Nou. In the stadium of Barcelona, ​​the Argentine striker scored two goals against Real Sociedad and Real Madrid. As a visitor, he scored two goals against Osasuna, Getafe, Rayo and Mallorca, another hat-trick against Deportivo Coruña.

In Spanish Supercup, scoring twice. And in the Champions League, three: two against Spartak Moscow and the last,  at Celtic Park, that goal was dedicated to his son Thiago.

Lionel Messi top scorer in La Liga

Lionel Messi top scorer in La Liga 

This season, Lionel Messi is the top scorer in La Liga with 15 goals in 11 games. Also, Messi is more decisive away from home than at Camp Nou. In the stadium of Barcelona, ​​the Argentine striker scored two goals against Real Sociedad and Real Madrid. As a visitor, he scored two goals against Osasuna, Getafe, Rayo and Mallorca, another hat-trick against Deportivo Coruña.

In Spanish Supercup, scoring twice. And in the Champions League, three: two against Spartak Moscow and the last,  at Celtic Park, that goal was dedicated to his son Thiago.

Lionel Messi Biography

Lionel Messi Biography

(Lionel Andrés Messi, Rosario, Santa Fe, 1987) Argentinian footballer.
Possessing exceptional technical ability, a devilish speed and inexhaustible inventiveness, since he came from the hand of their parents at FC Barcelona, 13 years old, made a dizzying career by the different categories to the first team, which debuted with just 16 in a friendly match against Porto.

In 2004, at age 17, played his first official match of the Spanish league. At 18 he got his international recognition: he was part of the Argentina, World Junior champion in the Dutch Under-20 Championship in 2005. But his true hatching occurred with the arrival of Pep Guardiola at Barca bench: during the four seasons in which he led the team coach (2008-2012), his goalscoring statistics reached stratospheric levels, contributing decisively to Barca's lived best phase in its history with 14 titles made ​​possible 18.
Almost unanimously considered the best player of the moment, his individual talent has been recognized for three consecutive years with the Golden Ball (2009, 2010 and 2011).

Known as Leo or Pulga (Flea), pointed his immense quality and when he was five and played in the club in his hometown neighborhood run by his father and been reaffirmed when, after seven years, started playing in the lower divisions of Newell's Old Boys of Rosario.

At 10 years old, Messi are about to make the leap to the club River Plate in Buenos Aires, he detected a delay in bone development caused by low levels of growth hormones, medical treatment was very expensive, the clubs would not afford it and his father, who did not have the necessary financial resources, decided to emigrate with his family to Barcelona, where he had presented a working option.
In September 2000, Leo performed a test on the FC Barcelona coach Carles Rexach was amazed by his football talent and, in effect signing a contract on a paper napkin, he joined the club, who took charge of the boy's treatment. Messi was then thirteen years and measured 140 cm.

Messi and Co. wins in Moscow

Messi and Co. wins in Moscow 

A brilliant Messi warmed the frosty Luzhniki stadium. Barcelona beat Spartak Moscow for 3 -0 with 2 goals from Lionel Messi who has one more remarkable exhibition.

With these 2 more goals Messi has equaled Ruud van Nistelrooy as second top scorer in the history of the Champions League. Leo has scored 56 goals and only surpassed by Raúl with 71.

Lionel Messi wins Golden Eleven ahead of Ronaldo

Lionel Messi wins Golden Eleven ahead of Ronaldo

For the third consecutive year, the French magazine Onze Mondial elected Lionel Messi the best soccer player of the year, based on the votes of its readers.

The Barcelona striker won the Golden Eleven award with 47.5 percent of the votes, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo into second place (27.95%), while the Colombian Radamel Falcao complete the podium after receive 6.10 percent of votes.

Messi is the third player to receive this award for the third time, equaling Michel Platini (1983, 1984 and 1985) and Zinedine Zidane (1998, 2000 and 2001). Cristiano Ronaldo earned the award in 2008.

Menotti: "Messi is a Martian»

Menotti: "Messi is a Martian»

"It's a Martian. It's amazing what we have achieved, "said  Argentine coach César Luis Menotti. compatriot of Messi.

"His deep commitment with the team, their solidarity, prudent and respectful. When he score a goal embraces his colleagues, no celebrates with the croud. When it is bright it becomes impossible to see what it does. Never seen him play poorly. Never. Neither in Barcelona nor in the selection, "said Menotti, who believes" there are no doubts 'about who deserved to win the Golden Ball, although it adds that "it would also be  fair a award for Iniesta.

About Cristiano Ronaldo says he is " individually remarkable", but in this sense "individual plays to win the game." "When she does not get the team playing with ten 'claims, speaking to radio Xarxa.

Lionel Messi is speechless with a fourth Golden Ball

Lionel Messi is speechless with a fourth Golden Ball 

"To be honest, this is unbelievable. Winning the award for the fourth time is too awesome to describe in words," said Messi when he received the Golden Ball, the main prize of the FIFA Gala, held in Zurich, Switzerland.

The FC Barcelona player wanted to recognize the role of the Argentine national team colleagues and the Catalan team, with particular emphasis on Andres Iniesta, also named: "It has been a pleasure to train and play with you."

Lionel Messi, who defeated the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and Iniesta, do not forget the coaches he worked with, family, friends and especially his wife and son, to whom he dedicated the prize.

Messi donates 150 000 euros

Messi donates 150 000 euros

Lionel Messi, the Barcelona footballer, donated one million pesos, about 152 thousand euros for the rehabilitation of a sports complex in a depressed area of Rosario, Argentina.

"The rehabilitation of this sports complex will benefit thousands of people in this area of ​​the city," said Rolando del Lago, the municipality responsible for sports.

Messi, who at age 13 left the Newell `s Old Boys from Rosario to head to Barcelona, has a foundation that has made several works of charity in the town.

Messi extends contract through 2018: "It's a fantastic day"

Messi extends contract through 2018: "It's a fantastic day"

This afternoon Leo Messi extended his contract with FC Barcelona through June 30 of 2018. The signing ceremony was attended by the player, President Sandro Rosell, Vice-President Josep Maria Bartomeu and the Director of Football Andoni Zubizarreta.

Blaugrana until he’s 31

Messi added two additional years to his existing contract, which was set to expire in June of 2016. The player, who joined the Club when he was 13 years old and made his first-team debut three years later, will be 31 when his contract expires.

“I want to continue playing football for Barça”

After he signed his contract with Barça, the Argentine forward declared: “I’m very happy at Barcelona, I’ve always said that. It’s a fantastic day ... I don’t know how I’ll be when I’m 31. I take it one day at a time and I want to continue playing football for Barça”

What he is sure about, however, is that the only European club he’ll ever play for is FC Barcelona. “I said it before, in Europe I’d like to end my career at Barça. I wouldn’t consider moving to another European club. With that said, I’m not ruling out the possibility of ending my playing career in Argentina.”

The match against Getafe

Messi also talked about this Sunday’s match against Getafe, which is scheduled to kick off at noon: “I don’t think it will by any different to play at 12.00. We’ve all done it when we were with the youth teams. Besides, we all train at noon - we’re used to it.”

Spain hails Lionel Messi's 'greatness'

Spain hails Lionel Messi's 'greatness'

Madrid: Spain bathed in glory on Tuesday after Barcelona star Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or for best footballer of the year for a record fourth time, cementing his claim to be one of the greatest players of all time.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque also snatched top honours, in recognition of their Euro 2012 triumph, which followed its 2010 World Cup win and Euro 2008 crown, to top a virtual clean sweep for Spanish and La Liga players at the prestigious awards.

But it was the smiling 25-year-old Argentine international who stole the show, with pictures of him picking up the FIFA prize in Zurich dressed in an eye brow-raising black and white-spotted suit and bow tie, splashed across front pages.

"Spain!!!" headlined Madrid-based Marca, Spain's biggest-selling sports daily and a favourite of Real Madrid fans.

"Unique, unmatchable Messi," the paper said after the striker scored a stunning 91 goals in 2012 in all competitions, smashing the 40-year-old record of German legend Gerd Mueller of 85.

"Leo Messi was crowned yesterday as the best player in history," Marca said. "No-one until now had won four Ballons d'Or in a row. Leo has done it, and consecutively."

Rival sports daily AS, too, lavished praise on Messi.

"Since we have known him, every year he plays better, every year he scores more goals," said the paper's columnist Alfredo Relano.

"I have never seen a player with such power. He lacks aesthetic but he has plenty of everything else," he said, predicting even more Ballons d'Or to come.

"Golden Messi," headlined the Barcelona-based Mundo Deportivo, adding: "Leo Messi is the greatest. Huge. Unique."

On his return to Barcelona airport, Messi told reporters that he had forgotten many people in his speech but had wanted to mention Barca coach Tito Vilanova, who is being treated for a cancer of the salivary gland, and defender Eric Abidal.

The French defender is training with the squad again after a liver transplant.

"When things calmed down I remembered Tito and Abidal and everyone, obviously," Messi said, apologising for his omission.

Messi was one of three players in the Spanish league on the shortlist for the world's best footballer award. The two others were his Barca team-mate Andres Iniesta and rival striker Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid.

In addition, all of the top six names in the final ranking that Messi topped were from La Liga teams.

In the FIFPro selection for the best 11-man line-up, meanwhile, six were Spaniards and all but two were from the Spanish league.

That selection included Ronaldo and three other Real players -- Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso -- plus Iniesta, Messi and two other Barcelona players, Gerard Pique and Xavi Hernandez.

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell said he was "very proud of our players and to be with Barcelona", the club said on its Twitter feed.

The president of the Spanish Royal Football Federation, Angel Villar, said Del Bosque's award was "a new prize for Spanish football that is going through some marvellous years".

Outside the footballing sphere, Spanish tennis champion Rafael Nadal in Twitter messages congratulated Messi and Del Bosque.

"Congrats to Leo Messi for his new golden ball," he wrote. "It was difficult with two cracks like Iniesta and Cristiano."

"How proud I feel of Del Bosque, making history with this great squad," he added.

From shy teenager to world beater: Messi's tremendous timeline at Barcelona

From shy teenager to world beater: Messi's tremendous timeline at Barcelona

By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer

His first signature was scribbled hastily on a napkin at the age of 13. But by the time his latest contract runs out, he will be 31.

Lionel Messi put pen to paper on a new deal on Thursday, which will keep him at Barcelona until 2018. The contract, agreed late last year, was part of the three-player agreement which saw captain Carles Puyol and vice-captain Xavi also extend their stays at the Catalan club.

But while those two are approaching the end of their careers, Messi is still only 25 and the next few seasons could represent his peak as a player - a frightening thought when one considers he is already touted by many as the finest footballer to have ever graced the game.

With 298 goals in just 363 appearances for Barca, Leo has gone from strength to strength since making his debut in 2004, smashing a series of records last year in particular. And he shows no sign of stopping now either.

Here, Goal.com takes a look at his timeline since he moved up to the first team at Camp Nou as a shy and slight young prospect more than eight years ago.

2004

March 6	Leo turned out for five teams in a single season (2003-04) as he progressed through the ranks at the Catalan club and made his debut for Barca B towards the end of the campaign. Still only 16, he alternated between Barca B and Barca C that season.
October 16	Messi made his official first team debut later that year in a derby against Espanyol, aged just 17 years and 114 days. He was the youngest player ever to play a competitive match for the Catalans, a record later broken by team-mate Bojan Krkic. He had also appeared in a friendly against Jose Mourinho's Porto in November 2003, still aged 16.

2005

May 1	The Argentine came off the bench in a home match against Albacete and, after seeing one effort disallowed, latched on to a pass from Ronaldinho to score a brilliant lob in added time. Still 17, he became the club's youngster-ever scorer (later beaten by Bojan). It would be the first of many.
May 22	Barcelona drew 3-3 at Villarreal and Messi won his first trophy as a Blaugrana: La Liga. He ended the season with seven appearances for the first team and one goal - the strike against Albacete.
July 2	Messi followed in the footsteps of his idol Diego Maradona as he led Argentina's Under-20 side to a World Cup win and received a phone call from the great man himself. He would make his full international debut the following month, against Hungary - just like Maradona had done.
September 16	Leo signed his first professional contract with the Catalan club, keeping him at Camp Nou until 2014. His release clause was set at €150m. Messi had arrived five years earlier as a fragile and shy 13-year-old. But even then, the club could sense he was destined for great things.
September 27	Leo made his Champions League debut against Udinese at Camp Nou and left the pitch to a standing ovation, something he would become accustomed to. A day earlier, he had been given Spanish nationality.

2006

March 1	Messi scored his first international goal as he netted in a 3-2 defeat to Croatia in Switzerland.
March 7	Just six days later, a promising campaign with Barcelona came to an end as he suffered a tear in his right thigh muscle against Chelsea in the Champions League. Barca would go on to win the European competition and La Liga, but Leo was forced to watch on from the sidelines.
June 16	Days before his 19th birthday, Messi netted for Argentina in the 6-0 win over Serbia & Montenegro at the World Cup in Germany. It remains his only goal in international football's showpiece event.
November 12	Leo suffered serious injury for the second time in months as he broke his metatarsal in a league game against Zaragoza. He was ruled out for three months.

2007

March 10	Messi scored three times (all equalisers) as a Barcelona side down to 10 men drew 3-3 at home to Real Madrid in La Liga. Leo became the first player to score a Clasico hat-trick since Ivan Zamorano in 1994-95 and remains the last man to have done so. He is also the fixture's youngest-ever scorer.
April 18	Against Getafe in the Copa del Rey, Leo scored a carbon copy of Maradona's goal against England in the 1986 World Cup. Picking up the ball in a similar position in his own half, Messi beat five players and the goalkeeper (as Diego had done) and covered around the same distance (62 metres).

2008

February 27	Still only 20, Messi made his 100th competitive appearance for Barcelona in a league game against Valencia.
March 4	The Argentine tore a muscle in his thigh in the Champions League clash against Celtic and was sidelined for six weeks. He has not suffered a serious injury since.
June 18	Pep Guardiola was presented as coach of Barcelona and announced that Deco, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho would be leaving the club. Eto'o ended up staying but the Brazilian departed and Messi inherited his number 10 shirt. He would also play his best football yet under the new coach.

2009

May 2	Messi started in a central role and did much damage as Barcelona inflicted a 6-2 drubbing on Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. It was Real's heaviest defeat since 1930 and ensured Barca went on to win La Liga - Messi's third at the Catalan club.
May 13	Leo scored one and assisted another two as Barca thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in Valencia to win the Copa del Rey. It was the first time the Argentine had won the trophy.
May 27	Messi scored a rare header to seal victory for Barcelona in the Champions League final against Manchester United, a moment of real personal satisfaction after he missed the showpiece through injury. The Catalans had won the treble and Leo ended the campaign with 38 goals.
September 18	The formidable forward signed a contract extension with Barcelona to run until 2016 and his release clause was raised to a massive €250m.
December 1	Messi won his first Ballon d'Or, beating Cristiano Ronaldo by a record margin - 473 votes to 233. He was also the winner of the Fifa World Player of the Year prize, awarded later in the month. The two titles have since been merged.
December 19	The Argentine scored the winner in extra time as Barcelona beat Estudiantes to win the Club World Cup. Guardiola's side had won six out of six trophies in a 15-month period, but the coach admitted that it would not have been possible without Messi.

2010

January 17	Messi scored his 100th goal for Barcelona as the Catalans thrashed Sevilla 4-0.
March 24	After becoming the first player to net back-to-back Liga hat-tricks for the Catalan club (versus Valencia and Zaragoza), he made his 200th official Barca appearance against Osasuna later in March.
April 6	Leo scored four times in a competitive match for the first time in his career as he netted all four of Barca's goals in the Catalans' 4-1 Champions League win over Arsenal at Camp Nou. Afterwards, Arsene Wenger described him as a "Playstation player".
May 16	Messi scored twice as Barcelona beat Valladolid 4-0. The win saw Guardiola's side seal La Liga, but they missed out on the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Messi finished as Pichichi and equalled Ronaldo's records (34 league goals for Barca; 47 in total). He was also La Liga's Player of the Year.

2011

January 10	Messi won the 2010 Ballon d'Or for the second time as the prize was merged with the Fifa World Player of the Year award. Andres Iniesta and Xavi finished second and third, respectively, to make it a Barcelona 1-2-3.
April 12	Netted his 48th goal of the campaign as Barcelona beat Shakhtar Donetsk and surpassed Ronaldo's record of 47 strikes in a single season for the Catalan club. He would finish 2010-11 tied with another Ronaldo, Cristiano, on 55 goals in all competitions.
May 28	After hitting a wonderful double in the semi-final win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, Leo scored the all-important second in the 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Wembley to claim his third Champions League.
August 17	The Argentine scored three and assisted the other two as Barca beat Madrid 5-4 on aggregate in a bad-tempered Spanish Supercopa series.
December 19	Messi hit two goals in a one-sided Club World Cup final clash against Santos. He finished as Man of the Match, won Golden Ball for being the tournament's best player and had emulated Pedro's feat (from 2009) of scoring in all six competitions.

2012

January 9	The Argentine beat Cristiano Ronaldo and team-mate Xavi to win his third Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in Zurich.
March 7	Having hit four against Valencia on his 200th Liga appearance in February, Messi went one better as he struck five in a 7-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen. He became the first player to net five in the Champions League since the tournament was rebranded in 1992.
March 20	Leo netted a hat-trick against Granada in La Liga to surpass Cesar Rodriguez as the all-time top goalscorer in Barcelona's history. Cesar's total of 232 had been reduced from 235 after Barca checked their stats. It is pretty irrelevant now though.
May 2	Beat Gerd Muller's record of 67 goals in a single season, set for Bayern Munich in 1972-73. Messi, who scored as Barca won the Copa del Rey in Guardiola's last game as coach, ended the season with 73 strikes in total.
December 9	His two goals against Betis saw him surpass Muller's mark of 85 goals in a calendar year for club and country. A month earlier, he had overtaken Pele's total of 75. Messi would finish 2012 with a total of 91 goals for club and country.

2013

January 7	Messi began the year by winning his fourth straight Ballon d'Or, beating Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta this time in Zurich.
January 27	The Argentine scored four goals in a home match against Osasuna, including his 200th in La Liga.
February 7	Signed a new deal with Barcelona which keeps him at the Catalan club until the age of 31. "I have no idea how I will be playing then," he admitted. The deal runs out in 2018, while his release clause remains at €250m.