Lionel Messi Celebrates 39th Birthday While Shining at FIFA World Cup 2026

Messi's Remarkable Journey Continues

New Delhi [India] - On June 24, Lionel Messi, the legendary figure of Argentina's FIFA World Cup triumph, celebrated his 39th birthday, showcasing his enduring prowess in football during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 and with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Throughout the tournament, Messi has netted five goals, surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose on the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring list. Notably, he achieved his first FIFA World Cup hat-trick against Algeria in the opening match of the tournament. To date, Messi has amassed an impressive total of 916 goals in his professional career, representing clubs such as Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, and the Argentine national team.

According to OptaJose, here’s a breakdown of Messi’s goals by age:

- 17 years – 1 goal

- 18 years – 10 goals

- 19 years – 19 goals

- 20 years – 21 goals

- 21 years – 41 goals

- 22 years – 48 goals

- 23 years – 57 goals

- 24 years – 82 goals

- 25 years – 69 goals

- 26 years – 46 goals

- 27 years – 64 goals

- 28 years – 50 goals

- 29 years – 57 goals

- 30 years – 51 goals

- 31 years – 55 goals

- 32 years – 28 goals

- 33 years – 46 goals

- 34 years – 24 goals

- 35 years – 38 goals

- 36 years – 30 goals

- 37 years – 29 goals

- 38 years – 50 goals

Since turning 30, Messi has been particularly prolific, scoring 351 goals, which constitutes over 38% of his total career goals. His peak years were between ages 23 and 29, during which he scored 425 goals, accounting for more than 46% of his career tally.

Known as 'La Pulga' (the Flea) and 'Messiah', Messi was born in a modest family in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. He demonstrated exceptional talent early on at Newell's Old Boys before joining Barcelona's prestigious La Masia academy, where he quickly emerged as a generational talent.

Messi made his senior debut for Barcelona in 2004 and spent nearly 20 years with the club, becoming its all-time leading scorer with 672 goals in 778 matches across all competitions. During his tenure, he secured 10 La Liga titles, 4 UEFA Champions League trophies, 7 Copa del Rey titles, 3 FIFA Club World Cups, 3 UEFA Super Cups, and 8 Spanish Super Cups. He played pivotal roles in two historic treble-winning seasons in 2008-09 and 2014-15 under coaches Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.

After departing Barcelona in 2021, Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain, where he scored 32 goals in 75 matches and won two Ligue 1 titles along with the 2022 Trophee des Champions.

On the international front, Messi debuted for Argentina in 2005 and has since become the nation's all-time top scorer, netting over 100 international goals in more than 175 appearances. He led Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022, scoring seven goals and earning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. Additionally, he guided Argentina to Copa America success in 2021 and the Finalissima in 2022.

Messi has claimed a record eight Ballon d'Or awards and numerous European Golden Shoes, highlighting his sustained excellence in the sport. He also won the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball in both 2014 and 2022.

In 2023, Messi signed with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, continuing to capture global attention while extending his impact on the sport in the later stages of his career. He officially joined Inter Miami on July 15, 2023, after leaving PSG, and made his debut on July 21. He subsequently led the team to its first major title, the Leagues Cup, that same year.

Since then, Messi has contributed over 85 goals in approximately 88 appearances for Inter Miami, leading the club to three major trophies: the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters' Shield, and the MLS Cup in 2025.

Messi has set numerous FIFA World Cup records, solidifying his status as one of the tournament's greatest players. He has scored 18 goals in World Cup history, making him the all-time leading scorer in the competition. Additionally, he has made 26 appearances across six World Cup editions (2006 to 2026), the most by any player in men's World Cup history.

Messi is among a select few, including Cristiano Ronaldo, to participate in six different World Cup tournaments, showcasing his remarkable longevity at the highest level. Throughout his career, he has scored at various stages of the tournament, from group matches to knockout rounds, demonstrating his consistency across different eras.

His crowning achievement came in 2022 when he led Argentina to World Cup victory, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, further solidifying his legacy as one of football's most iconic figures.