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Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi.2
Personal information
Full name Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini
Date of birth 24 June 1987 (1987-06-24) (age 36)
Place of birth    Rosario, Flag of Argentina Argentina
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current club Flag of United States Inter Miami
Number 10
Youth clubs
1995–2000
2000–2004
Flag of Argentina Newell's Old Boys
Flag of Spain Barcelona
Senior clubs
Years Club App (Gls)
2003-2004
2004–2005
2004–2021
2021–2023
2023–
Flag of Spain Barcelona C
Flag of Spain Barcelona B
Flag of Spain Barcelona
Flag of France Paris Saint-Germain
Flag of United States Inter Miami
010 00(5)
022 00(6)
520 (474)
054 0(21)
0000(1)   
National team
2004–2005
2008
2005–
Flag of Argentina Argentina U20
Flag of Argentina Argentina U23
Flag of Argentina Argentina
018 0(14)
0000(2)
175 (103)

Lionel Andrés Messi (born 24 June 1987), also known as Leo Messi, is an Argentine professional footballer who captains the Argentina national team and plays for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami. Often considered the best player in the world and widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards, a record six European Golden Shoes, and in 2020 was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team. Until leaving the club in 2021, he had spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he won a club-record 35 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and four UEFA Champions Leagues. A prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker, Messi holds the records for most goals in La Liga (474), a La Liga and European league season (50), most hat-tricks in La Liga (36) and the UEFA Champions League (8), and most assists in La Liga (192), a La Liga and European league season (21) and the Copa América (17). He has scored over 750 senior career goals for club and country, and has the most goals ever by a player for a single club.

Messi began playing football at a young age and his potential was quickly identified by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004-05 season, he broke his team record for the youngest footballer to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and Champions League in 2006. His breakthrough season was in the 2006-07 season; he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Perhaps his most successful season was the 2008-09 season, in which Messi scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble-winning campaign. In the following 2009-10 campaign, Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, equalling Ronaldo's record total for Barcelona.

Messi was the top scorer of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship with six goals, including two in the final game. Shortly thereafter, he became an established member of Argentina's senior international team. In 2006, he became the youngest Argentine to play in the FIFA World Cup and he won a runners-up medal at the Copa América tournament the following year. In 2008, in Beijing, he won his first international honour, an Olympic gold medal, with the Argentina Olympic team.

Early life[]

Messi was born on 24 June 1987 to the south of Rosario, in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, to parents Jorge Horacio Messi (born 1958), a factory worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. His paternal family originates from the Italian city of Ancona, where his ancestor, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883. He has two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matías as well as a sister named Maria Sol. At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father kyle. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Primera División club River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for treatment for his condition as it cost $900 a month. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of Barcelona, had been made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida, Catalonia, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial. Barcelona signed him after watching him play, offering to pay for the medical bills if he was willing to move to Spain. His family moved to Europe and he started in the club's youth teams. He was two cousins also involved in football; Maxi and Emanuel Biancucchi.

Club career[]

FC Barcelona[]

Messi made his official debut for the first team in a friendly match against Porto on 16 November 2003 (at 16 years and 145 days). Less than a year later, Frank Rijkaard let him make his league debut against Espanyol on 16 October 2004 (at 17 years and 114 days), becoming the third-youngest player ever to play for Barcelona and youngest club player who played in La Liga (a record broken by team mate Bojan Krkić in September 2007). When he scored his first senior goal for the club against Albacete on 1 May 2005, Messi was 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old, becoming the youngest ever to ever score in a La Liga game for Barcelona until 2007 when Bojan Krkić broke this record, scoring from a Messi assist. Messi said about his ex-coach Rijkaard: "I'll never forget the fact that he launched my career, that he had confidence in me while i was only sixteen or seventeen".

2005-06 season[]

On 16 September, for the second time in three months, Barcelona announced an update to Messi's contract; this time it was improved to pay him as a first team member and extended until June 2014. Messi obtained Spanish citizenship on 26 September 2005 and was finally able to make his debut the season's Spanish First Division. Messi's first home outing in the Champions League came on 27 September against Italian club Udinese. Fans at Barcelona's stadium, the Camp Nou, gave Messi a standing ovation upon his substitution, as his composure on the ball and passing combinations with Ronaldinho had paids dividends for Barcelona.

Messi netted six goals in 17 league appearances, and scored one Champions League goal in six. His season ended prematurely on 7 March 2006, however, when he suffered a muscle tear in his right thigh during the second leg of the second round Champions League tie against Chelsea. Rijkaard's Barcelona ended the season as champions of Spain and Europe.

2006-07 season[]

In the 2006-07 season, Messi established himself as a regular first team player, scoring 14 times in 26 matches. On 12 November, in the game against Real Zaragoza, Messi suffered a broken metatarsal, ruling him out for three months. Messi recuperated from his injury in Argentina and his return to action came against Racing Santander on 11 February, where he came on as a second-half substitute. On 11 March, El Clásico saw Messi in top form, scoring a hat-trick to earn 10-man Barcelona a 3-3 draw, equalising three times, with the final equaliser coming in injury time. In doing so he became the first player since Iván Zamorano (for Real Madrid in the 1994-95 season) to score a hat-trick in El Clásico. Messi is also the youngest player ever to have scored in this fixture. Towards the end of the season he began finding the net more often; 11 of his 14 league goals of the season came from the last 13 games.

Messi is also proved the "new Maradona" tag was not all hype, by nearly replicating Maradona's most famous goals in the space of the single season. On 18 April 2007, he scored two goals during a Copa del Rey semi-final against Getafe, one of which was very similar to Maradona's famous goal against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, known as the Goal of the Century. The world's sport press drew comparisons with Maradona, and the Spanish press labelled Messi as "Messidona". He ran about the same distance, 62 metres (203 ft), beat the same number of players (six, including the goalkeeper), scored from a very similar position, and ran towards the corner flag just as Maradona did in Mexico 21 years before. In a press conference after the game, Messi's team-mate Deco said: "It was the best goal I have ever seen in my life". Against Espanyol Messi also scored a goal which was remarkably similar to Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal against England in the World Cup quarter-finals. Messi launched himself at the ball and connected with his hand to guide the ball past the goalkeeper Carlos Kameni. Despite protests by Espanyol players and replays showing it was clear handball, the goal stood.

2007-08 season[]

During the 2007-08 season, Messi scored five goals in a week leading Barcelona to the top four in La Liga. On 19 September he scored once as Barcelona defeated Lyon 3-0 at home in a Champions League match. He scored two goals against Sevilla on 22 September and then on 26 September, Messi scored another two goals in a 4-1 victory over Real Zaragoza. On 27 February, Messi played in his 100th official match for Barcelona against Valencia.

Messi was nominated for a FIFPro World XI Player Award under the category of Forward. A poll conducted in the online edition of the Spanish newspaper Marca had him as the best player in the world with 77 percent of the vote. Columnists from Barcelona-based newpapers El Mundo Deportivo and Sport stated that the Ballon d'Or should be given to Messi, a view supported by Franz Beckenbauer.

Career Statistics[]

Club[]

As of 10 August 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona C 2003–04 Tercera División 10 5 10 5
Barcelona B 2003–04 Segunda División B 5 0 5 0
2004–05 17 6 17 6
Total 32 11 32 11
Barcelona 2004–05 La Liga 7 1 1 0 1 0 9 1
2005–06 17 6 2 1 6 1 0 0 25 8
2006–07 26 14 2 2 5 1 3 0 36 17
2007–08 28 10 3 0 9 6 40 16
2008–09 31 23 8 6 12 9 51 38
2009–10 35 34 3 1 11 8 4 4 53 47
2010–11 33 31 7 7 13 12 2 3 55 53
2011–12 37 50 7 3 11 14 5 6 60 73
2012–13 32 46 5 4 11 8 2 2 50 60
2013–14 31 28 6 5 7 8 2 0 46 41
2014–15 38 43 6 5 13 10 57 58
2015–16 33 26 5 5 7 6 4 4 49 41
2016–17 34 37 7 5 9 11 2 1 52 54
2017–18 36 34 6 4 10 6 2 1 54 45
2018–19 34 36 5 3 10 12 1 0 50 51
2019–20 33 25 2 2 8 3 1 1 44 31
2020–21 35 30 5 3 6 5 1 0 47 38
Total 520 474 80 56 149 120 29 22 778 672
Paris Saint-Germain 2021–22 Ligue 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 552 485 80 56 149 120 29 22 810 683

International[]

As of match played 10 July 2021
Appearances and goals by national team, year and competition
Team Year Competitive Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Argentina U20 2004 2 3 2 3
2005 16 11 16 11
Total 16 11 2 3 18 14
Argentina U23 2008 5 2 5 2
Total 5 2 0 0 5 2
Argentina 2005 3 0 2 0 5 0
2006 3 1 4 1 7 2
2007 10 4 4 2 14 6
2008 6 1 2 1 8 2
2009 8 1 2 2 10 3
2010 5 0 5 2 10 2
2011 8 2 5 2 13 4
2012 5 5 4 7 9 12
2013 5 3 2 3 7 6
2014 7 4 7 4 14 8
2015 6 1 2 3 8 4
2016 10 8 1 0 11 8
2017 5 4 2 0 7 4
2018 4 1 1 3 5 4
2019 6 1 4 4 10 5
2020 4 1 0 0 4 1
2021 9 5 0 0 9 5
Total 104 42 47 34 151 76
Career total 125 55 49 37 174 92

Honours[]

Club[]

Barcelona

Paris Saint-Germain

International[]

Argentina U20

Argentina U23

  • Summer Olympics: 2008

Argentina

Individual[]

  • Ballon d'Or/FIFA Ballon d'Or: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021
  • European Golden Shoe: 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
  • FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
  • The Best FIFA Men's Player: 2019
  • FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014
  • La Liga Best Player: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15
  • Pichichi Trophy: 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
  • Olimpia de Plata (Argentine Footballer of the Year): 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
  • Argentine Sportsman of the Decade 2011–2020: 2021
  • Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2020

International[]

As of match played 13 June 2015.

International appearances[]

International statistics
Team Year Apps Goals
Argentina 2005 5 0
2006 7 2
2007 14 6
2008 8 2
2009 10 3
2010 10 2
2011 13 4
2012 9 12
2013 7 6
2014 13 8
2015 1 1
Total 98 46
 


Honours[]

Clubs[]

Barcelona

Argentina[]

Runner-up:

Individual[]

  • FIFA Ballon d'Or: 2010, 2011, 2012
  • Ballon d'Or: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019
  • FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
  • The Best FIFA Men's Player: 2019
  • World Soccer Player of the Year: 2009, 2011, 2012
  • World Soccer Greatest XI of All Time: 2013
  • Onze d'Or: 2009, 2011, 2012
  • European Golden Shoe: 2010, 2012, 2013
  • UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 2011
  • UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2009
  • FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009, 2011
  • UEFA Champions League Top Goalscorer: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
  • L'Équipe Champion of Champions: 2011
  • FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Tournament: 2005
  • FIFA U-20 World Cup Top Goalscorer: 2005
  • LFP Best Player: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • La Liga Foreign Player of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2010
  • Pichichi Trophy: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
  • LFP Best Forward: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • UEFA Champions League Forward of the Year: 2009
  • La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
  • FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008
  • World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008
  • Bravo Award: 2007
  • Golden Boy: 2005
  • Marca Legend Award: 2009
  • Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
  • ESPY Awards Best International Athlete: 2012
  • El País King of European Soccer: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
  • IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer: 2011, 2012
  • IFFHS World's best Top Division Goal Scorer: 2012
  • FIFA/FIFPro World XI: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • UEFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
  • ESM Team of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Copa América Young Player of the Tournament: 2007
  • Copa América Top Assist Provider: 2011
  • Copa del Rey Top Goalscorer: 2010–11, 2013–14
  • Argentine Sportsperson of the Year Award: 2011
  • Olimpia de Plata: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • 2014 FIFA World Cup: Golden Ball (Best player)
  • 2014 FIFA World Cup: Dream Team
  • IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Year: 2020
  • IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Decade 2011–2020
  • Argentine Sportsman of the Decade 2011–2020: 2021
  • L'Équipe Champion of Champions: 2011
  • World Soccer Greatest XI of All Time: 2013
  • Ballon d'Or Dream Team: 2020
  • Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2020
  • Champion for Peace and Sport: 2020

External links[]

Inter Miami CF logo
Inter Miami CF squad - 2023–24

Callender •  Yedlin •  Arroyo •  McVey •  Busquets •  Mota •  Gómez •  Campana •  10 Messi (c) •  13 Ulloa •  14 Jean •  15 Sailor •  16 Taylor •  17 Martínez •  18 Alba •  19 Robinson •  20 Neville •  21 Marsman •  22 Stefanelli •  24 Fray •  26 Gregore •  27 Kryvtsov •  28 Azcona •  29 Dos Santos •  30 Cremaschi •  31 Miller •  32 Allen •  33 Negri •  35 Valencia •  41 Ruiz •  49 Borgelin •  99 Jensen •  – Farías • 

Manager:  Flag of Argentina Gerardo Martino
Inter Miami CF logo
Ballon d'Or winners

1956: Matthews · 1957: Di Stéfano · 1958: Kopa · 1959: Di Stéfano · 1960: Suárez · 1961: Sívori · 1962: Masopust · 1963: Yashin · 1964: Law · 1965: Eusébio · 1966: Charlton · 1967: Albert · 1968: Best · 1969: Rivera · 1970: Müller · 1971: Cruyff · 1972: Beckenbauer · 1973: Cruyff · 1974: Cruyff · 1975: Blokhin · 1976: Beckenbauer · 1977: Simonsen · 1978: Keegan · 1979: Keegan · 1980: Rummenigge · 1981: Rummenigge · 1982: Rossi · 1983: Platini · 1984: Platini · 1985: Platini · 1986: Belanov · 1987: Gullit · 1988: van Basten · 1989: van Basten · 1990: Matthäus · 1991: Papin · 1992: van Basten · 1993: Baggio · 1994: Stoichkov · 1995: Weah · 1996: Sammer · 1997: Ronaldo · 1998: Zidane · 1999: Rivaldo · 2000: Figo · 2001: Owen · 2002: Ronaldo · 2003: Nedvěd · 2004: Shevchenko · 2005: Ronaldinho · 2006: Cannavaro · 2007: Kaká · 2008: C. Ronaldo · 2009: Messi · 2010: Messi · 2011: Messi · 2012: Messi · 2013: Ronaldo · 2014: Ronaldo · 2015: Messi · 2016: Ronaldo · 2017: Ronaldo · 2018: Modrić · 2019: Messi · 2020: not awarded · 2021: Messi · 2022: Benzema · 2023: Messi ·

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Flag of Argentina Argentina
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Argentina – 2006 FIFA World Cup - Quarter-finals

1. Abbondanzieri 2. Ayala 3. Sorín (c) 4. Coloccini 5. Cambiasso 6. Heinze 7. Saviola 8. Mascherano 9. Crespo 10. Riquelme 11. Tevez 12. Franco 13. Scaloni 14. Palacio 15. Milito 16. Aimar 17. Cufré 18. Rodríguez 19. Messi 20. Cruz 21. Burdisso 22. González 23. Ustari Manager:  Flag of Argentina José Pékerman

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Argentina – 2007 Copa América – Runners-up

1. Abbondanzieri 2. Ayala (c) 3. Díaz 4. Ibarra 5. Gago 6. Heinze 7. Palacio 8. Zanetti 9. Crespo 10. Riquelme 11. Tevez 12. Carrizo 13. González 14. Mascherano 15. G. Milito 16. Aimar 17. Burdisso 18. Messi 19. Cambiasso 20. Verón 21. D. Milito 22. Orión Manager:  Flag of Argentina Alfio Basile

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Argentina – 2010 FIFA World Cup - Quarter-finals

1. Pozo 2. Demichelis 3. C. Rodríguez 4. Burdisso 5. Bolatti 6. Heinze 7. Di María 8. Verón 9. Higuaín 10. Messi 11. Tévez 12. Garcé 13. Samuel 14. Mascherano 15. Otamendi 16. Kun Agüero 17. Jonás 18. Palermo 19. Milito 20. M. Rodríguez 21. Andújar 22. Romero 23. Pastore Manager:  Flag of Argentina Diego Maradona

Template:Argentina squad (2011 Copa América)

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Argentina – 2014 FIFA World Cup – Runner up

1. Romero 2. Garay 3. Campagnaro 4. Zabaleta 5. Gago 6. Biglia 7. Di María 8. Pérez 9. Higuaín 10. Messi (c) 11. Rodríguez 12. Orión 13. A. Fernández 14. Mascherano 15. Demichelis 16. Rojo 17. F. Fernández 18. Palacio 19. Álvarez 20. Agüero 21. Andújar 22. Lavezzi 23. Basanta Manager:  Flag of Argentina Alejandro Sabella

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Argentina – 2015 Copa América – Runners-up

1. Romero 2. Garay 3. Roncaglia 4. Zabaleta 5. Gago 6. Biglia 7. Di María 8. Pereyra 9. Higuaín 10. Messi (c) 11. Agüero 12. Guzmán 13. Casco 14. Mascherano 15. Demichelis 16. Rojo 17. Otamendi 18. Tevez 19. Banega 20. Lamela 21. Pastore 22. Lavezzi 23. Andújar (Marchesín) Manager:  Flag of Argentina Gerardo Martino

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Argentina – Copa América Centenario – Runners-up

1. Romero 2. Maidana 3. Roncaglia 4. Mercado 5. Kranevitter 6. Biglia 7. Di María 8. Fernández 9. Higuaín 10. Messi (c) 11. Agüero 12. Guzmán 13. Funes Mori 14. Mascherano 15. Cuesta 16. Rojo 17. Otamendi 18. Lamela 19. Banega 20. Gaitán 21. Pastore 22. Lavezzi 23. Andújar Manager:  Flag of Argentina Gerardo Martino

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Argentina – 2018 FIFA World Cup – Round of 16

1. Guzmán 2. Mercado 3. Tagliafico 4. Ansaldi 5. Biglia 6. Fazio 7. Banega 8. Acuña 9. Higuaín 10. Messi (c) 11. Di María 12. Armani 13. Meza 14. Mascherano 15. Lanzini* 15. Pérez* 16. Rojo 17. Otamendi 18. Salvio 19. Agüero 20. Lo Celso 21. Dybala 22. Pavón 23. Caballero Manager:  Flag of Argentina Jorge Sampaoli

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Argentina – 2019 Copa América – Third place

1. Armani 2. Foyth 3. Tagliafico 4. Saravia 5. Paredes 6. Pezzella 7. Pereyra 8. Acuña 9. Agüero 10. Messi (c) 11. Di María 12. Marchesín 13. Funes Mori 14. Casco 15. Pizarro 16. De Paul 17. Otamendi 18. Rodríguez 19. Suárez 20. Lo Celso 21. Dybala 22. Martínez 23. Musso Manager:  Flag of Argentina Lionel Scaloni

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Argentina – 2021 Copa América – Winners

1. Armani 2. Martínez Quarta 3. Tagliafico 4. Montiel 5. Paredes 6. Pezzella 7. De Paul 8. Acuña 9. Agüero 10. Messi (c) 11. Di María 12. Marchesín 13. Romero 14. Palacios 15. González 16. J. Correa 17. Domínguez 18. Rodríguez 19. Otamendi 20. Lo Celso 21. Á. Correa 22. La. Martínez 23. E. Martínez 24. Gómez 25. Li. Martínez 26. Molina 27. Álvarez 28. Musso Manager:  Flag of Argentina Lionel Scaloni

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Argentina – 2022 FIFA World Cup – Winners

1. Armani 2. Foyth 3. Tagliafico 4. Montiel 5. Paredes 6. Pezzella 7. De Paul 8. Acuña 9. Álvarez 10. Messi (c) 11. Di María 12. Rulli 13. Romero 14. Palacios 15. Correa 16. Almada 17. Gómez 18. Rodríguez 19. Otamendi 20. Mac Allister 21. Dybala 22. La. Martínez 23. E. Martínez 24. Fernández 25. Li. Martínez 26. Molina Manager:  Flag of Argentina Lionel Scaloni

FIFA World Cup winning captain

1930: Nasazzi · 1934: Combi · 1938: Meazza · 1950: Varela · 1954: Walter · 1958: Bellini · 1962: Mauro · 1966: Moore · 1970: C. Alberto · 1974: Beckenbauer · 1978: Passarella · 1982: Zoff · 1986: Maradona · 1990: Matthäus · 1994: Dunga · 1998: Deschamps · 2002: Cafu · 2006: Cannavaro · 2010: Casillas · 2014: Lahm · 2018: Lloris · 2022: Messi ·

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