Lionel Messi is, for many, the greatest footballer of all time, an Argentine whose blend of dribbling, vision and finishing has no true precedent. At Barcelona he spent the bulk of his career, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer and the fulcrum of a side that dominated Europe.
His close control at speed and his ability to conjure goals from nothing set him apart, as did a record collection of Ballon d’Or awards. He redefined what a forward could be, drifting deep to create as readily as he struck.
For years the one prize that eluded him was the World Cup, until he crowned his career by leading Argentina to victory in 2022, a triumph that settled any remaining debate about his place in the game’s history.