Few athletes quite captivate the senses like Lionel Messi. The diminutive magician slaloms through defenses like a spoon through a mug of piping hot tea, sending would-be tacklers strewn all along the surface.
He’s won it all at club level, including league title after league title with storied Spanish side FC Barcelona. His resume is filled with accomplishments: the Ballon d’Or, Champions League titles, La Liga crowns and so much more.
Messi is the among the greatest players to ever lace up a pair of cleats. And, for likely the final time, fans will be able to witness him perform on the grand stage: the World Cup.
The 5-foot-7 magician has yet to hoist the Jules Rimet trophy, finishing ever so close in 2014. He — and his nation — will hope for a Tinseltown ending to what has been a Tinseltown-esque international career.
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So, what team does Lionel Messi play for? The Sporting News has you covered.
Who does Lionel Messi play for in the World Cup?
Messi is Argentina‘s No. 10, following in the footsteps of iconic Argentinian playmaker Diego Maradona.
He’s been a fixture of the national team setup since he was a teenager, making his debut for “La Albiceleste” at the tender age of 18. He has proceeded to set the international game alight, scoring 91 goals in 165 appearances for Argentina.
Has Lionel Messi ever won a World Cup?
For all of his goal-scoring exploits, it took Messi some time to string together success on the world stage. Argentina dropped an enthralling 2014 World Cup final to Germany, felled by an extra-time goal by teenager Mario Gotze. Messi has never gotten any closer to the World Cup title than that.
Despite failing to hoist soccer’s grandest trophy, Messi has begun to find some joy in the powder-blue-and-white shirt. In 2021, Messi led Argentina to a Copa America title, meaning that the Argentinians reign supreme as the best team in South America at the moment. It was the first piece of hardware Messi ever earned at international level (save for a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics).
MORE: When will Lionel Messi retire?
What club team does Lionel Messi play for?
Messi became an icon playing for Barcelona, racking up six Ballon d’Or trophies (given to the world’s best player) while a part of the Blaugrana. However, after a series of financial issues (which still persist), Barça were forced to let Messi — the highest-paid player in the world — leave following the 2020-21 season.
He proceeded to pop up at Paris Saint Germain, joining fellow world superstars Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe in attack. He nabbed another Balon D’Or in 2021 and is continuing to put on a clinic even at the age of 35 — he has seven goals and ten assists in 13 games for PSG this season.