It's been a great week for Argentinian footballer Lionel "LEO" Messi. On Monday, he became the all-time leader in World Cup scoring (with 18 points over six tournaments). He hit this milestone during a game against Austria—where he scored both of Argentina's two goals. A few days earlier in the tournament, Leo pulled out a hat trick—scoring all three of Argentina's goals against Algeria. Of course, each point is the coordinated work of many team members. But it's becoming hard to deny that Leo Messi may be the greatest football player of all time.
And today is his 39th birthday.
Leo Messi was born in 1987, the third of four children. His ancestry is mostly Italian with a bit of Spanish on his father's side. He began playing football at the age of four—and probably started kicking around the ball with his older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías, two years before that. (Some have argued: it is this deeply-rooted culture of football which has yet to seep into America's sporting DNA. Until enough American children begin developing their ball-handling skills in those early years—challenged by older, stronger kids—it will be hard for the US to dominate those countries which live and breathe football from toddlerhood.) Leo Messi proved to be a football star, throughout his childhood, wherever he played.
At 10, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. He began hormone treatment the next year but it proved too expensive for his family of modest means. His youth team initially agreed to pay part of it, but soon reneged. Another team offered to sign Leo and pay for his treatment—but the first team refused to sign a transfer. At 14, his family moved to Barcelona (where his father had family) in an attempt to provide young Leo with medical treatment and greater football opportunity. Before long, he began to rise through the ranks of Barcelona's junior league academy. He was even approached by Arsenal who wanted to recruit the teen. But he stayed with Barcelona and was put on the top team at the age of 17 (before he was old enough to sign a permanent contract).
On Messi's 18th birthday, in 2005, he signed a long term (and lucrative) contract with Barcelona. After a few years, the terms were lengthened and sweetened—through 2021. When 2021 arrived, Messi was now a powerful free agent. And plenty of teams would have liked to recruit him. Nevertheless, he had every intention of signing a new contract with Barcelona. But the team was in terrible financial straits. Covid had decimated their finances. Barcelona told Messi that they would not be re-signing him. They couldn't afford to. In a tearful press conference, Lionel Messi informed the world that he would be leaving Barcelona.
It was not long before Paris Saint-Germain signed Messi to a two year contract. Leo helped the team raise its statistical standings—but, even with Messi, they still failed to crack the top tiers of the European championship. Enter the American team, Inter Miami, which recruited Messi in 2023. His base pay would be comparable to his European salary, but he would now be given equity rights and revenue sharing. It is estimated that he may now be earning (on and off the field) between $70 and $80 million a year.
Lionel Messi has been very generous off the field. He is a robust sponsor of numerous charitable organizations including UNICEF and others which focus on children's health (in light of his own childhood health problems). Following the Haiti Earthquake in 2010, he visited the country as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. He has also lent his name to campaigns to improve education, prevent childhood HIV, decrease infant mortality rates and improve social inclusion for disabled youngsters. The Lionel Messi Foundation has provided funds to support research grants, provide medical training, and to assist in the building of clinics and medical facilities. Back in Argentina, Messi has helped to fund youth football leagues including the building and renovating of sports facilities and housing for young athletes. After winning a libel lawsuit against a Spanish newspaper, he donated his €65,000 award to Médecins sans Frontières.
The footballer sculptures, shown above, are from my personal collection. They were made in the Fifties and may have been crafted for use as football trophies.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.