Featuring an exclusive interview with Messi and rare photos
First official photography biography
The biography of Lionel Messi, the greatest footballer of our time.

"Lionel Messi, the God of Football" is the first official biography of Lionel Messi, featuring an exclusive interview with Ballon d'Or award-winning football magazine France Football and rare photos from his childhood.
Florent Torsch, a reporter for [France Football] who has consistently covered Lionel Messi since his debut, who has set an unprecedented record of winning the Ballon d'Or seven times, has written an official biography that summarizes Messi's entire career in one volume, including exclusive interviews with Messi when he won the Ballon d'Or, his growth process, his time at FC Barcelona, ​​and his performances with the Argentina national team.

This book covers the story of Messi's first time playing soccer in Rosario and his move to Barcelona, ​​as well as episodes from the MSN (Messi, Suarez, Neymar) era that led Barcelona to its heyday, his Ballon d'Or rivalry with Ronaldo, his journey to winning the 2021 Copa America, comparisons with Maradona, and the story of his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
This book chronicles the football career of Lionel Messi, who achieved his final golden age as the world's best football player by leading Argentina to victory at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Messi was quiet in the classroom.
When he wasn't using his superpowers, like a superhero from a comic book, he went unnoticed by people.
I used to sit at the very back of the classroom, barely able to poke my head above my desk.
(…) But when the recess bell rang, this little boy changed.
The shyness he had shown in the classroom disappeared without a trace.
Messi always captured everyone's attention when he played football on the field.
The captain of the day was always the first player to pick.

--- p.15, 「1.
Beginning (1987-2000) - From "The First Leap of 'Flea'"

At the end of 2005, Lionel Messi's status changed abruptly.
He appeared in 11 La Liga matches, 10 of them as a starter, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists.
He also played in 4 games in the Champions League, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist.
Messi's number 19 shirt, which was also the number worn by fellow Argentine Juan Antonio Pizzi during the 1996-1997 season, was one of the best-selling jerseys.
Advertisements also came in like a flood.
Television broadcasts were full of stories about Messi, and Maradona even pointed to Messi as his successor on an Argentine broadcast.

--- p.33, 「2.
From "Starting in Barcelona (2000-2005) on the adult stage"

Of all the goals you've scored this year, which one stands out the most?
“I can say that without hesitation! The goal in the Champions League final.
It was an important goal, but also a strange one.
“I headed it in! I headed it.”
When you scored the goal, did you feel that it was a goal that would go down in history?
"no.
It's the same with this year's Ballon d'Or award.
At that moment, it is difficult to measure the impact that the work will have.
Above all, I was so happy.
“It was the goal that decided the final victory.”
- pp.36~38, 「3.
From the first Ballon d'Or (2009-2010): "I'm still thirsty for trophies."

Regarding the complementary relationship between the two players and the Uruguayan striker, Sevilla FC manager Jorge Sampaoli jokingly said this in an interview with Spanish media outlet [El Pais]:
“FIFA must intervene.
The friendship between Leo, Neymar and Suarez is the worst thing that has ever happened to football.
Messi can win the game on his own.
But if you add Suarez and Neymar to that, it's a huge deal. FIFA should ban this!”
--- p.53, 「4.
Still at the top (2013-2017) MSN, Magic Combination)

Messi has set his sights on winning his fifth Champions League title between now and his retirement, matching the records of fellow countrymen Alfredo Di Stefano, Paolo Maldini and Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, Martin Souto emphasized that “Messi is not competing with Ronaldo, he is competing with himself.”
“He’s a player who really loves the game and is a tremendous competitor.” His ambitious words to Barcelona fans in August 2018 showed he was not yet satisfied.
“Last season we had good results in the Copa del Rey and La Liga, but the Champions League qualifiers remain a problem for us,” Messi said, holding a microphone in the middle of the stadium.
“So, we will do our best this year to bring back that beautiful and so much-desired Champions League trophy to Camp Nou.”
--- p.66, 「5.
From "The Art of Re-creation (2017-2019) A New Messiah is Born"

You are 32 years old, and Ronaldo will soon be 35.
Is the rivalry between the two players over?
no.
It will continue as long as you are active.
This competition will continue until the end of each of our careers, as it has from the beginning.
We are competing and have been on equal footing for 10 years.
I'm not sure we understand what a historic event this is.
It's not often that two players of this caliber compete for so long.
--- p.73, 「5.
The Art of Re-creation (2017-2019) “It was a little painful when Ronaldo equalized.”

Around noon, Messi appeared in Hall 1899 of the Camp Nou Museum.
In the cathedral-like silence, only the sound of a flash of light broke the silence.
Messi, who was unable to speak for a while due to tears and a choked throat, received a handkerchief from his wife Antonella, who was sitting in the front row with their three children.
“I never imagined that this day would come, much less that I would leave in this way,” Messi confessed to the cameras, his eyes red from emotion.
“It’s really hard.
I've spent most of my life at this club.
“I came here when I was 13 and I was still a child,” Messi admitted, admitting that he was going through the saddest time of his career.
“We’ve been through a lot of tough times, we’ve suffered a lot of defeats, but there’s always the next game to play, the revenge game to play.
“Now another history begins,” Messi said, receiving a standing ovation that lasted about two minutes.

--- p.82, 「6.
Goodbye Barcelona, ​​Goodbye PSG (2020-2021) from the drama of the summer

Humble and reserved, Messi has always refused to be compared to his greatest idols.
“I want to be a world champion, not play to change the way people see me,” he said in a May 2014 interview with American sports media outlet ESPN.
“I want to achieve these goals with the current national team.
“It’s a great opportunity to add a World Cup to my record.” “If Messi finally becomes a world champion, the debate will probably tilt towards him.
“Because Messi has the advantage of being active,” said renowned commentator Victor Hugo Morales.

--- p.103, 「8.
Endless comparisons with Maradona - Messi greater than God?

At one time, when Ronaldo scored in a league match or Champions League, Messi would often score one more goal than Ronaldo in the next match.
It's hard to believe that this was just a coincidence.
Do you check the performance of your competitors?
“I always wanted to surpass myself, not just watch what other players did.
He has been in a constant rivalry with Ronaldo for several years in the same league.
It was a wonderful thing and helped both of them continue to grow in their respective careers.
But they didn't necessarily keep an eye on each other.
“I didn’t want to be better than other players, I just wanted to surpass myself to become the best in absolute terms.”

--- p.112, 「9.
From the seventh Ballon d'Or (2021): "Sometimes I don't want to stand out."