Lionel Messi is 39 years old as of October 2026. They were born on 24 June 1987.
Argentine footballer who won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards and led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title
Did you know?His first professional contract was famously signed on a paper napkin at a tennis club.
Editor's Take:
What sets Messi apart is not just how much he has won, but how he plays: with the ball seemingly glued to his feet and an uncanny sense of where every opponent will be. Small and slight as a boy, he needed growth hormone treatment, and his move to Barcelona as a teenager helped make it possible. His partnership with coaches and teammates there produced one of the most admired sides in football history. For years critics said he could not deliver for Argentina, until he finally led them to the 2022 World Cup. For many fans he settled the argument over who is the greatest player of all time.
Key Milestones
2004: Makes his Barcelona debut at 17
2009: Wins his first Ballon d'Or
2012: Scores a record 91 goals in a calendar year
2021: Wins the Copa América and joins PSG
2022: Leads Argentina to the World Cup
2023: Joins Inter Miami
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, which he captains, and the Argentina national team.
The little magician many call the greatest footballer ever
Born in Rosario, Argentina, Messi was diagnosed as a child with a growth hormone deficiency. Barcelona offered to pay for his treatment, and he moved to Spain at 13. He went on to become the club's all-time record goalscorer, winning the Champions League four times.
He has won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards. In 2022, while at Paris Saint-Germain, he completed football's ultimate prize: captaining Argentina to the World Cup, where he was named player of the tournament. He then moved to Inter Miami in the US. Small, quick and almost impossible to knock off the ball, he is famous for dribbles that look as if the ball is tied to his feet.
Did you know?He made his Barcelona first-team debut at 17, and soon became the club's youngest scorer in La Liga at the time.
Lionel Messi's birthday is June 24. Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina.
How old is Lionel Messi?
Lionel Messi is 39 years old, and turns 40 on June 24.
Who shares a birthday with Lionel Messi?
Famous people who share Lionel Messi's June 24 birthday include Francis of Assisi, Claudia Sheinbaum, John of the Cross, Victor Francis Hess and Juan Manuel Fangio.
