Messi at 39: 39 facts on football's record-breaker

Lionel Messi turned 39 on Wednesday with his sixth World Cup campaign still in full swing. He leads all scorers with five goals in two games as Argentina advance to the knockout rounds. Messi’s form comes amid a career spanning over two decades of relentless goal-scoring and record-breaking feats. At 10, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency and underwent costly treatment. Some clubs declined to sign him due to his size and the expense of his medical care. Barcelona, however, signed him at 13 on a napkin deal, bypassing concerns over his stature. Messi made his Barcelona debut at 17 on October 16, 2004, wearing No. 30. Ronaldinho, then wearing No. 10, predicted his greatness. After Ronaldinho’s departure in 2008, Messi inherited the No. 10 jersey, which he wore for the rest of his time at the club. In 2009, Messi won his first Ballon d’Or after scoring 38 goals and providing 19 assists in 51 appearances across all competitions. He went on to win four straight Ballon d’Or awards, securing a record eight in total. His closest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, has five. Messi holds the single-season goal record with 91 goals in 69 club and international matches in 2012, surpassing Gerd Müller’s 1972 record of 85. He has also won 12 European league titles in 19 club seasons, including 10 with Barcelona and two with Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi becomes all-time World Cup top scorer with 17 goals vs Austria

Messi’s most iconic goals include a 19-year-old dribbling past an entire team and a 2015 solo effort against Athletic Bilbao. His greatest assist came in a link-up with Nahuel Molina during a World Cup match. Messi has a documented history of on-field vomiting, including during the 2014 World Cup final, though he attributes this to nerves and has since adjusted his diet. His penalty record stands at 25 of 31 for Argentina and 116 of 149 for clubs, a 77-80% success rate. Spain pursued Messi during his Barcelona development, offering dual citizenship, but he chose to represent Argentina internationally. His first red card came under 50 seconds into his international debut for an elbow.

Spain lead 4-0 after own goal as Saudi Arabia trail at World Cup

Messi’s signature drink is yerba mate, a South American herbal tea, frequently seen in images of him celebrating. From November 2012 to May 2013, he scored in 21 consecutive La Liga games, netting 33 goals in the streak. Known as La Pulga, Spanish for “The Flea,” Messi stands at 5-foot-7. He has scored in every match minute except minute one, with his fastest goal arriving at 1 minute and 19 seconds.