Toba Owojaiye Reporting
Today, Lionel Messi celebrates his 36th birthday, and it is remarkable to reflect on the numerous achievements he has accumulated throughout his career.
Here is a list of some of his notable accomplishments:
• Best FIFA Men’s Player: 3 times
• Ballon d’Or Winner: 7 times (a world record)
• UEFA Best Player in Europe: 3 times
• Top goal scorer in 22 different competitions
• Player of the Year: 10 times
• FIFA World Cup winner: 1 time
• Copa America winner: 1 time
• Champions League winner: 4 times
• La Liga titles: 10 times
• Ligue 1 titles: 2 times
• FIFA World Club Cup: 3 times
• UEFA Super Cup: 3 times
• Copa del Rey: 8 times
• U-20 World Champion: 1 time
• Olympic gold medalist: 1 time
With such an extensive list of accolades, Messi undoubtedly stands as the greatest player to have ever graced the sport of football, solidified by the sheer number of records he has established.
Among his notable world records are:
• The only player in history to win the Ballon d’Or, FIFA World Player, Pichichi Trophy, and Golden Boot in the same season (2009/10).
• Most Ballon d’Or wins: 7 times (in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, and 2022).
• Youngest player to win three Ballon d’Or awards, achieving this feat at the age of 24 years, 6 months, and 17 days on January 9, 2012.
• Most Golden Shoes: 6 times (in the 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 seasons).
• Highest goal scorer in a season across official competitions: 73 goals in 2011/12 (50 in the League, 14 in the Champions League, 3 in the Copa del Rey, 3 in the Spanish Super Cup, 1 in the European Super Cup, and 2 in the Club World Cup).
• All-time leading goal scorer in a calendar year: He scored 91 official goals in 2012, with 84 goals for Barcelona (59 in the League, 13 in the Champions League, 5 in the Copa del Rey, and 2 in the Super Cup), and an additional 12 with the Argentine national team. Including friendly matches, the figure rises to a total of 96 goals.
• Record for international goals in one year: Scored 25 goals in 2012 (13 in the Champions League and 12 with the Argentine national team), sharing the record with Vivian John Woodward, who achieved the same feat in 1909.
• Highest goal scorer for a single club: As of May 27, he has scored 672 goals, surpassing Pelé’s record of 643 goals with Santos between 1956 and 1974.
• Longest scoring streak in the league: He scored 33 goals in 21 consecutive matches during the 2012/13 league season.
• Holds the record for the most trophies won in football history: 46 trophies.
These extraordinary accomplishments further emphasize Messi’s unparalleled impact on the world of football.