As of my last update in September 2021, Lionel Messi’s top record was scoring the most goals for a single club in the history of football. He achieved this remarkable feat with FC Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his professional career. Messi scored a staggering 672 goals in official competitions for Barcelona, breaking the previous record held by Pelé for Santos.
Please note that there might have been new records set by Lionel Messi since my last update. I recommend checking the latest sources or news updates for the most current information on Messi’s records.
How did Barcelona find Messi?
Lionel Messi’s journey to Barcelona is a story of talent, determination, and a bit of luck. Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina, and at a young age, he displayed exceptional skills on the football field. His talent was evident from his early years, and it wasn’t long before he caught the attention of scouts.
In 2000, when Messi was just 13 years old, he moved from Argentina to Barcelona, Spain, to join FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia. His relocation to Spain was made possible through the efforts of his family and the then-sports director of FC Barcelona, Charly Rexach. Messi’s family moved to Spain to support his footballing aspirations, and Barcelona offered to pay for his medical treatments, which he required due to a growth hormone deficiency.
At La Masia, Messi continued to develop his skills under the guidance of the club’s youth coaches. His talent was quickly recognized, and he progressed through the ranks of Barcelona’s youth teams. In 2003, at the age of 16, Messi made his first-team debut for Barcelona in a friendly match against FC Porto. His performance in the youth teams and in friendly matches impressed Barcelona’s coaching staff, and they decided to promote him to the senior squad.
From that point on, Messi’s career at Barcelona soared to unprecedented heights. He became an integral part of the first team, helping Barcelona secure numerous domestic and international titles. His incredible dribbling ability, vision, and goal-scoring prowess made him a key player for the club, and he went on to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer before leaving the club in 2021.
Barcelona’s discovery of Messi was a combination of scouting, recognizing his talent at a young age, and providing the necessary support and opportunities for him to flourish within the club’s youth system.
