Lionel Messi's Career so Far in 25 Pictures
Lionel Messi's story is not one of overcoming adversity, rather it is one of thriving. He has already accomplished more in his career than almost any other footballer in history.
Messi may go down as the greatest footballer of all time, and for some he already is. The little boy from Rosario is now the face of football, and the game has become even better because of him.
To this point his career, Messi is something to marvel at. Though all eyes are fixed forward, it is sometimes good to just take a look back.
Though it is impossible to put the career of Lionel Messi into only 25 pictures, that is exactly what we have attempted with this article. Let us know what you think!
Messi and His Mentors
Messi made his debut long before he was 18. He was the standout player for the youth teams of Barcelona, and everyone took notice of his skill.
An Odd Debut
Messi's debut with the Argentina national team did not really go as planned.
The Hat Trick
Lionel Messi officially became Barcelona's hero in 2007 when he scored his first hat trick against Real Madrid.
100 Matches
Messi played his 100th official match with Barcelona against Valencia on February 27, 2008. It may not seem like that big of a milestone, but it actually shows a lot.
Olympic Gold
Messi finally put his mark on the Argentina national team in the summer of 2008. The young forward led the South Americans to the Olympics and walked away with a gold medal.
Barcelona's New No. 10
When Ronaldinho left the club in 2008, there was a bit of worry over what would happen next. Fans questioned who would take his place and if the club would suffer from his departure.
World Cup Qualifying
Messi also wore the No. 10 shirt for Argentina for the first time when the team defeated Venezuela 4-0 in 2009.
First Champions League
This picture tells an important story. In May of 2009, Barcelona lifted the Champions League trophy, which was the first time Messi had done so.
Officially the Best
For his exploits, Lionel Messi finally got the recognition he deserved when he was named the world's best player in 2009.
Putting Four Goals Past Arsenal
On April 6, 2010, Messi would have one of the most dominant performances in Champions League history.
Making Maradona Proud
This picture is fairly well known and shows the relationship that Messi had with former Argentina coach Diego Maradona.
Captain Messi
During the World Cup, Messi also wore the captain's armband for the very first time for Argentina.
Messi's Second Ballon D'Or
Messi was again named the world's best player for 2010 when he was handed the coveted Ballon d'Or trophy beating out both Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
"Happy Birthday Mom"
Messi's first moment of trouble came in January of 2011 and was odd, to say the least.
One of the Greatest Goals Ever
During Barcelona's search for another Champions League trophy, they met up with Real Madrid. Though every El Clasico meeting is demanding, this one would belong to Lionel Messi, who led Barcelona to a 2-0 victory.
Champions League Final Goal
Weeks after Barcelona surpassed Real Madrid, they met up with Manchester United in the Champions League final.
Messi's Second Champions League Trophy
Barcelona lifted their second Champions League trophy in three years that day. Like the trophy won in 2009, the Catalans were a team to marvel at.
Spanish Supercopa Glory
Barcelona and Messi began the new season the same way they ended the previous one: by winning trophies.
Meeting Neymar
Neymar had the pleasure of meeting and playing against Lionel Messi in December of 2011 as Barcelona and Santos squared off in the final of the Club World Cup.
Messi's Third Ballon D'Or
For the third consecutive year, Lionel Messi was recognized as the best player in the world for 2011. He became only the fourth player to have ever won the trophy three times.
Becoming Barcelona's Leading Scorer
Messi would again find his name in the record book in March of 2012. His hat trick against Granada at the Camp Nou would see him become Barcelona's all-time leading scorer.
Hat Trick Against Brazil
After his season with Barcelona came to a close, Messi joined Argentina for a friendly against rivals Brazil in June of 2012.
Surpassing Gerd Muller
In December of 2012, Lionel Messi did the unthinkable. He scored a brace against Real Betis to tie and then surpass Gerd Muller's record of 85 goals in a calendar year.
Messi's Fourth Consecutive Ballon D'Or
There was no question about who would be winning the Ballon d'Or for the 2012 season. After all the records Messi broke that year, it was no surprise when his name was called to receive his fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or trophy.
Magic over Milan
In March of 2013, Barcelona had a mountain to climb. As the Catalans hosted AC Milan at the Camp Nou, they needed to overcome a 2-0 aggregate scoreline to advance to the next round of the Champions League.
Five minutes into the game, Messi scored one of the most unbelievable goals of his career. The fans roared, and hope grew. By halftime, Messi had doubled Barcelona's lead.
In the second half, David Villa and Jordi Alba would put the finishing touches on the match as Barcelona's magic saw them overcome Milan 4-0 in one of the most spectacular comebacks in Champions League history.
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