Lionel Messi birthday: 10 incredible feats the Argentine achieved with Barcelona
On November 16, 2003, a young Lionel Messi came off the bench to make his first-team debut for Barcelona against FC Porto in a pre-season friendly. It was a substitute appearance that lasted just 15 minutes, football would never be the same again. Check out 10 astonishing fats the talismanic forwards achieved at Catalan club over a decade and half.
On November 16, 2003, a young Lionel Messi came off the bench to make his first-team debut for Barcelona against FC Porto in a pre-season friendly. Though it lasted for just 15 minutes, football would never be the same again! Check out 10 astonishing fats
Messi is the third youngest person ever to play for Barcelona senior team til date, and the youngest player to ever score for Barcelona. (Photo | AP)
Messi was part of the “Baby Dream Team,” which is considered as Barcelona’s greatest youth side ever in histroy. (Photo | AFP)
Leo signed his first contract as a senior Barca player on his 18th birthday. He had a buy-out clause of €150 million for a contract that was valid til 2010. (Photo | AFP)
Messi inherited the No. 10 Barca jersey from Ronaldinho in the summer of 2008. His first senior goal was assisted by the Brazilian great as well. (Photo | AFP)
Messi is the first football player in history to win four consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Or awards. He is the first to win three European Golden Shoes as well. (Photo | PTI)
Messi scored a total of 47 goals in all competitions in the 2009-10 campaign, equaling Ronaldo’s club record from the 1996-97 campaign. (Photo | AFP)
Messi ranked second behind Neymar in SportsPro magazine's 2013 list of the world's most marketable athletes. (Photo | AP)
Leo's tally for the Catalan giants during the 2011-12 campaign stands tall with a whopping total of 73 goals and 29 assists in all competitions. He scored more than 10 hat-tricks that season. (Photo | AP)
With a total net worth of $400 million, he is the third richest footballer in the world, only behind Leicester City's Faiq Bolkiah and Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo. Leo earns around $645,000 per week. (Photo | PTI)
Former Arsenal gaffer Arsene Wenger revealed that after he successfully signed Cesc Fabregas, he tried to sign young Messi as well. However, the deal didn't happen as Leo wasn’t willing to leave FCB. (Photo | AP)
