An eventful career in soccer is coming to an end. Multiple dynasties have come and gone, new players have carved out careers, and legends have retired. But nobody has left a more enduring mark on the 2010s than Leo Messi.
The Argentine has had the most dominant, emphatic, and downright ridiculous decade in the history of soccer.
Rising Star
Leo Messi was already a well-known soccer star at the end of the 2000s. He won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009, but he would firmly establish himself as one of the best players to ever play the game in the following ten years.
The Argentine international finished the 2009-10 season with 47 goals in 53 games as FC Barcelona won La Liga. However, that was only the beginning. In the 2010-11 season, the center forward recorded 53 goals and 24 assists as Barça won La Liga and the Champions League.
| Season | FC Barcelona Appearances | FC Barcelona Goals | National Team Appearances | National Team Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009/2010 | 53 | 47 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010/2011 | 55 | 53 | 13 | 4 |
| 2011/2012 | 60 | 73 | 9 | 12 |
| 2013/2014 | 50 | 60 | 7 | 6 |
| 2014/2015 | 46 | 41 | 14 | 8 |
| 2015/2016 | 57 | 58 | 8 | 4 |
| 2016/2017 | 49 | 41 | 11 | 8 |
| 2017/2018 | 52 | 54 | 7 | 4 |
| 2018/2019 | 54 | 45 | 5 | 4 |
| 2019/2020 | 50 | 51 | 10 | 5 |
Leo Messi Is Simply The Best
It was after the 2011-12 season when we started to wonder if he was human. He scored a nigh-on incomprehensible 73 goals in just 60 games while assisting a further 29 goals. Yet, incredibly, Barça was pipped to the title by Real Madrid that season.
Leo Messi was so dominant that he won four consecutive Ballon d’Ors between 2009 and 2012. The only person to come close to this accomplishment was Michel Platini, who won it three times in a row in the early ’80s.
In 2012-13, FC Barcelona reclaimed the La Liga throne, and Lionel Messi kept on breaking records. Between 2012-13 and 2015-16, the center forward scored an absurd 200 goals in 202 games. But he is more than just a goalscorer. Take away Messi’s goals, and he would still be one of the most productive playmakers in Europe.
Iconic Rivalry
It is almost impossible to talk about Messi without mentioning Cristiano Ronaldo. A special chapter of Leo’s decade was his rivalry with the Real Madrid and Portuguese player. (No, CR7 fans, we haven’t forgotten about his historic decade either.)
Leo Messi’s most remarkable accomplishments were fueled by his brutal battles against Ronaldo and a strong-willed Madrid side.
The last ten years were Lionel Messi’s, but many of his successes resulted from Cristiano Ronaldo pushing the Argentine to his limits. Nevertheless, they have accomplished so many of the same things, in such different styles, that we’re lucky to be alive during their reign as two of the best players in the history of the game.
Live TV & On Demand Soccer Streaming
- Watch Premier League And Euro Leagues
- On Any Device. Anytime. Anywhere
- Stream Live, Rewind Or Replay
- No Contracts, No Long Term Commitments
Leo Messi Was Consistent
Despite getting older and playing fewer games, Leo Messi is still terrifyingly consistent—plus, he has added free kicks to his repertoire. The four-time Champions League winner and ten-time La Liga champion has scored 165 goals since the 2016-17 season.
He finished this historic decade with 579 goals. He has scored 50+ goals in 9 out of 10 years and collected half of the Ballon d’Or trophies presented between 2010-20.
In 2021, at the age of 33, Leo Messi took home the Ballon d’Or award for the 7th time. The judges from around the world credited him, particularly for captaining Argentina to Copa America final and lifting the trophy. This was their first major international title since 1993.
Additionally, Messi won the Ballon d’Or award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2019.
Leo Messi Complicated Relationship with Argentina
In the ever-changing landscape of football, there has been one constant. For 18 years, Leo Messi has displayed an unrivaled dominance on the pitch; his success with FC Barcelona and PSG (Paris St. Germain) has been unparalleled.
But World Cup glory continues to elude him. In the eyes of many Argentines, his failure to deliver the biggest prize in football during the 2010s may diminish his legacy.
The New Maradona
Leo Messi has always been compared to Diego; after all, Maradona is the greatest player in Argentina’s history. Growing up in Rosario, the striker began his football journey at Newell’s Old Boys youth team when Maradona’s stint with the senior club ended.
But the parallels don’t stop there; Messi has similar playmaker skills, wears the same number, and has the same diminutive physique as the venerated Maradona. [6]
Just by his appearance, Leo Messi seemed destined for greatness, and from a young age, it was clear that he had talent in abundance. A trial with FC Barcelona, where Maradona began his European odyssey, was arranged through family ties.
After initial reluctance, FC Barcelona signed him on a napkin, and the Lionel Messi legend began.
Being Immortal In Maradona’s World
At the U-20 World Cup in 2005, the youngster was an unknown commodity. Many of his teammates were still plying their trade in Argentina, and Sergio Agüero (who was playing for Independiente at the time) later revealed that he didn’t even know Messi’s name.
However, that changed rapidly when Lionel Messi took home the Golden Boot and Golden Ball as La Albiceleste hoisted the trophy. A star was born. With it, the hope from many in Argentina that a new Maradona was waiting in the wings.
Things could have been quite different, however. Through a Catalan great-grandfather, Lionel Messi could have represented Spain and even Italy at the international level. Instead, he chose the country of his birth, stating in his book: “I love Argentina, and these are the only colors I want to wear.”
Live TV & On Demand Soccer Streaming
- Watch Premier League And Euro Leagues
- On Any Device. Anytime. Anywhere
- Stream Live, Rewind Or Replay
- No Contracts, No Long Term Commitments
But it seems that love is not enough, and many of his results-driven compatriots struggle to reciprocate that same level of affection. In a country that produced Diego Maradona, a man so exalted they call him Dios. It would always take something special to be put on the same pedestal.
Unfortunately for Leo Messi, his European success doesn’t bear the same significance back home. It has always been a World Cup or bust (it also doesn’t help that Argentina has failed to win the Copa América after reaching the final three times with Messi).
Olympic Gold
The forward’s performances for his national team are often under the microscope, but he remains determined to achieve success with the Albiceleste.
Barcelona superstar Leo Messi values his Olympic gold medal more than his club titles and club goals and insists he pays no attention to any criticism his performances for Argentina receive. [1]
Messi has enjoyed a glittering domestic career at Camp Nou, but has failed to replicate that success with the national team. [2]
The prolific forward won Olympic gold in 2008. However, Argentina fell short in the final of the 2014 World Cup and was also runners-up in the 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas, the latter defeat seeing him briefly retire from international football. [3]
“The criticism I receive is not something I care about because I know about the things that happened. I understand the people who always want us to win and demand that we deliver a trophy. But those of us who play for the national team want to win a title too.” [4]
He returned to win the 2021 Copa Americas with Argentina and is now focused on winning the World Cup in 2022.
Leo Messi’s Tarnished Legacy
Messi’s international career has been nothing short of a tragedy, but there have been occasions when the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner stepped up when his country needed him most. Such as in 2017, with Argentina on the verge of missing out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup, Leo Messi put the underperforming team on his back and scored a hat trick against Ecuador to keep the dream alive.
Although widely regarded as one of the best players to ever grace a football pitch, the Messiah hasn’t lived up to the expectations on the international stage. At 35 years old, his chance to achieve what Diego Maradona did for Argentina is slipping away.
First, the striker lead his nation to become Copa América Champions in 2021.
During the Round of 16 knockout match versus Australia, Leo Messi played his 1000th competitive game. He opened the scoring with this 789th career goal. The Messiah has now changed everyone’s opinion now that he won the Holy Grail, the 2022 World Cup.
How Many Goals Does Messi Have?
Leading into the 2022 World Cup, Leo has scored 487 league goals in 559 matches. I’m sure he’ll want to break the 500-goal barrier before the end of the 2022/23 season.
For Argentina, he has scored 98 goals from 172 matches. Messi is the first player from Argentina to score at four World Cups in a row (2006, 2014, 2018, 2022). His World Cup career total now stands at twelve goals.
He would love to add a few more goals to this tally during the World Cup before announcing his retirement from international football.
Leo Messi Stats
Full Name: Lionel Andrés Messi
Birthdate: 24/06/1987
Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina
Leo Messi Height: 170cm (5 feet 7inches)
Club Career:
- FC Barcelona 2004–2021
- Paris Saint-Germain 2021–Current
Total Appearances In November 2022: 559 matches, 487 league goals
National Team Career:
- Argentina 2005–Current
Total Appearances At In November 2022: 172 matches, 98 goals
Club Honors:
FC Barcelona
- 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, and 2018–19: La Liga Champions
- 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, and 2014–15: UEFA Champions League Champions
- 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2018: Supercopa de España Winners
- 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2020–21: Copa del Rey Winners
- 2009, 2011, and 2015: UEFA Super Cup Winners [5]
Paris Saint-Germain
- 2021–22: Ligue 1 Champions
National Team Honors:
Argentina U20
- 2005: FIFA World Youth Championship Winners
Argentina U23
- 2008: Summer Olympics Gold Medalists
Argentina Senior Team
- 2014: FIFA World Cup Runners-up
- 2021: Copa América Champions
- 2022: CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions
- 2022: FIFA World Cup Champions
Individual Honors:
- 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021: Argentine Footballer of the Year
- 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, and 2014–15: La Liga Best Player
- 2009-10, 2011–12, 2012-13, 2016–17, 2017-18, 2018–19, 2019–20, and 2020–21: Pichichi Trophy
- 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2021: Ballon d’Or/FIFA Ballon d’Or Winner
- 2009: FIFA World Player of the Year
- 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19: European Golden Shoe
- 2009 and 2011: FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball
- 2014: FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
Conclusion
Leo Messi’s time at the top may soon come to an end. It’s hard to imagine how any player will be able to match what he has achieved in the past decade. But records are meant to be broken, and we can’t wait to see what the 2020s will bring.
Live TV & On Demand Soccer Streaming
- Watch Premier League And Euro Leagues
- On Any Device. Anytime. Anywhere
- Stream Live, Rewind Or Replay
- No Contracts, No Long Term Commitments
References:
[1], [2], [3], and [4]: https://www.beinsports.com/us/soccer/news/barcelona-star-lionel-messi-ignoring-argent-2/501848
[5]: https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9B%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%AD%CE%BB_%CE%9C%CE%AD%CF%83%CE%B9
[6]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi
Images:
Getty Images (main image)
www.bigsoccer.com/threads/asias-legendary-player-fc-barcelonas-paulino-alcantara.1893962/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lionel_Messi_(L),_Bruno_Alves_(R)_%E2%80%93_Portugal_vs._Argentina,_9th_February_2011.jpg
www.quora.com/What-do-citizens-of-Argentina-think-about-the-Messi-Maradona-comparison
Adrian Dennis / AFP
www.twitter.com/goal/status/1138106294571884544
www.twitter.com/alimo_philip/status/1554065526732767234/photo/1
