There is not much left for Lionel Messi to achieve in soccer, and after Argentina won the FIFA World Cup this weekend in Qatar, many said that the 35-year-old has now completed his career in the sport.
On Sunday, Messi helped his team secure its win over France, scoring twice before Argentina won 4-2 on penalties, following the game ending at 3-3 through extra time. For many, it was confirmation that the Argentina team's captain is now soccer's GOAT, the greatest player of all time.
Born in Rosario, Argentina, Messi played for the local Newell's Old Boys club in his youth before relocating to Barcelona, Spain, when he was just 13.
It was a bold move for the young player, but it gave him the opportunity to realize his talent, and at 17 he made his debut for the Spanish team in October 2004. Messi went on to play 520 games for Barcelona, scoring 474 goals in the process during his 17 years with the club.
In an emotional scene in 2021, he announced that he was leaving to join French champion team Paris Saint-Germain.
Over his career, Messi has played 172 times for Argentina, scoring 98 goals. Before the World Cup final, he announced that it would be his last competition for the nation.
How Much Does Messi Make a Year?
Messi has won the coveted Ballon d'Or trophy seven times after being voted the best soccer player in the world, and he has made an impressive amount of money.
He has amassed a $400 million fortune over his time in soccer, according to Forbes, which has listed him as the highest-paid athlete in the world, with a yearly income of $131 million.
A study published by L'Equipe in March said Messi earns a basic wage of $43 million per year with Paris Saint-Germain, which is equivalent to $827,000 a week.
While these are astronomical earnings, Messi is in third place in the wages ranking at Paris Saint-Germain. Brazilian Neymar and French striker Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat trick at the World Cup final, earn more before taxes than Messi does.
How Many Trophies Does Messi Have?
Messi is closing in on being the most decorated soccer player in history. The World Cup win means that he has 42 trophies, just one behind Brazilian Dani Alves, who has 43.
While at Barcelona, Messi won a club record 35 trophies, including 10 La Liga, seven Copa del Rey and four UEFA Champions League titles.
He gained five more trophies while playing in Paris, as well as the 2021 Copa América and 2022 FIFA World Cup titles with Argentina.
How Many Times Has Messi Won the World Cup?
The one trophy that had escaped Messi over his career was the World Cup, until Argentina's triumph over France on Sunday.
Messi cut a frustrated figure for much of his international career, not meeting the glittering standards he had set at the club level over the past 18 years.
It looked as if he might be destined to stay trophy-less for his country, but a breakthrough came with Argentina's 1-0 win over Brazil in the 2021 Copa América final.
This paved the way for Messi to inspire his team to win the 2022 World Cup, making them the champions of his continent and across the globe at the same time.
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