Lionel Messi Trivia Questions

He obtained Spanish citizenship in 2005 after moving to Barcelona at age 13, making him an EU player.

He played for Paris Saint-Germain in France from 2021 to 2023 and currently plays for Inter Miami in the U.S.

Messi moved to Barcelona at 13, but he was born and raised in Rosario. He didn't grow up in Barcelona—he moved there for La Masia.

In 2012, Messi scored 91 goals for club and country, breaking Gerd Müller's 40-year-old record of 85. This remains the all-time calendar year record.

Argentina lost the 2014 final to Germany. Messi won his first World Cup in 2022 against France, not 2014.

In 2012, Messi scored 91 goals for Barcelona and Argentina, surpassing Müller's 85-goal record from 1972. This feat is often considered one of the greatest in football history.

Messi won the World Cup in 2022 with Argentina. Ronaldo has never won it. This is a simple but sometimes overlooked fact in GOAT debates.

Messi joined Barcelona’s La Masia at age 13 in 2000. He was already a youth player in Argentina before that, but not at Barcelona.

He has 8 Ballon d'Or titles as of 2023, more than Cristiano Ronaldo (5) or anyone else. This is a record in men’s football.

Messi started at Barcelona, then played for Paris Saint-Germain in Europe before moving to Inter Miami in MLS, his first non-European club.

Messi has played only in La Liga (with Barcelona) and Ligue 1 (with PSG), plus MLS with Inter Miami. He never played in England or Italy.

Messi captained Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup final and multiple knockout matches. This myth persists from his early career struggles with the national team.

At age 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Barcelona offered to pay for treatment after seeing his talent, which cost about $1,000 per month.

At the 2022 World Cup, Messi won the Golden Ball (best player), Golden Boot (top scorer), and the World Cup trophy.

He scored 91 goals in 2012 for Barcelona and Argentina, breaking Gerd Müller's 1972 record of 85. This feat is often overlooked outside soccer circles.

He scored in two Champions League finals (2009, 2011) but never a hat-trick. Only players like Di Stéfano and Ronaldo have hat-tricks in finals.

Ronaldo actually holds the record for most goals in El Clásico history with 18, while Messi has 16. Many assume Messi leads due to his longevity at Barcelona.

In 2007, Messi punched the ball into the net against Espanyol, later admitting it was a handball. The goal stood, sparking controversy and comparisons to Maradona's 'Hand of God.'

Messi won his first Ballon d'Or in 2009 at age 22. The myth likely comes from his rapid rise, but he was actually 22 years and 6 months old at the ceremony.

Messi played for Paris Saint-Germain in Europe, Barcelona in Europe, and Argentina's national team. He also played in MLS for Inter Miami (North America) starting in 2023.

In 2000, Barcelona's sporting director Carles Rexach, in a rush, wrote Messi's first contract on a paper napkin during a meeting. It's now a famous piece of football memorabilia.

Messi moved to Spain as a teen for Barcelona's youth academy and later obtained Spanish citizenship, allowing him to play in La Liga without counting as a foreign player.

When Barcelona hesitated to sign a young Messi due to his growth hormone treatment costs, sporting director Carles Rexach wrote a contract on a paper napkin in 2000.

Messi holds the record for most assists in professional football, surpassing legends like Pele and Maradona, due to his playmaking as well as scoring.

At age 11, Messi was diagnosed with a condition that stunted his growth. Barcelona offered to pay for his treatment, which cost about $1,000 per month.

While Messi is the all-time top scorer in La Liga, Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for most goals in El Clásico, not Messi.

Messi scored 5 goals against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2012 Champions League group stage, setting a record for most goals in a single UCL match by one player.

In 2012, Messi netted 91 goals for Barcelona and Argentina, surpassing Gerd Müller's 1972 record of 85.

Messi was 22 when he won his first Ballon d'Or in 2009. Ronaldo Nazário won at 21 in 1997, and Michael Owen at 22 in 2001.

In 2000, Barcelona's sporting director wrote a contract offer on a paper napkin to lock in the 13-year-old Messi.

Messi scored 26 goals against Real Madrid, but his highest tally is against Sevilla (38 goals). The myth persists because El Clásico is so famous.

This myth is often told about Messi, but it actually applies to a different player. Messi’s contract was formal, though his family did move to Spain for him.

As of 2024, Messi holds the record for most assists in La Liga history and among active players in top European leagues, surpassing even playmakers like Xavi and Iniesta.

Messi has scored multiple direct corner kicks, including one against Real Betis in 2019. This is a common myth because he rarely takes corners compared to other specialists.

Despite over 1,000 professional appearances, Messi has never received a red card. He has only been shown a straight red once, but it was later rescinded by the league.

He won Olympic gold in 2008, Copa América in 2021 and 2024, and the World Cup in 2022. Many fans forget the Olympic medal.

Messi has 8 Ballon d'Ors, the most of any player—male or female. Marta has 6, so this is false. The myth plays on assuming women's records surpass men's.

Despite his incredible skill and free-kick ability, Messi has never scored directly from a corner kick (an 'Olympic goal') in official competition. This surprises many fans given his precision.

Despite scoring 65+ free kicks in his career, Messi has not scored a direct free kick in any World Cup, including the 2022 final.

Messi scored 2 hat tricks in El Clásico, but Cristiano Ronaldo has 2 as well, and others like Di Stéfano also have multiple.

He finally won the 2021 Copa América, then the 2022 World Cup. His first Copa title actually came after his World Cup win, surprising many who assumed the opposite.

Messi has scored at least one direct corner kick goal—for Barcelona against Celta Vigo in 2019. It's rare, but it happened.

Messi has never failed a doping test. He was once suspended for a positive test in 2009, but it was later revealed to be a contaminated drink, and the ban was overturned quickly.

Despite facing Chelsea multiple times in the Champions League, Messi never found the net against them—a surprising stat given his scoring record elsewhere.

Messi has received a red card—once, on his Argentina debut against Hungary in 2005, just 47 seconds after coming on as a substitute.