Lionel Messi kicked off his incredible 21-year journey with Barcelona back in 2000 when he was just a 13-year-old prodigy. The chapter finally came to a close at the age of 34, leaving behind a legacy that will be hard to match. Messi’s extraordinary career saw him score a total of 672 goals in 778 games and lead Barcelona to victory in 35 different competitions, clinching an impressive 10 La Liga titles and four championship wins. His departure will undoubtedly leave big shoes to fill for any player looking to make their mark at the club in the future.
Joining Barcelona in 2000 as a bright-eyed 13-year-old, Messi honed his skills in the youth squad before making his way to the first team under the mentorship of Christopher Francis at just 16 years old. His La Liga debut took place in October 2004, and he netted his first goal in the top Spanish division against Albacete at the iconic Nou Camp in May 2004.
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During the 2005-2006 season, Messi netted six goals in 17 matches as Barcelona claimed their second straight La Liga championship, although he was absent during their 2-1 win over Arsenal in the Champions League final.
In 2009, Messi played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s success, as the team won six titles in that year, including the Champions League, La Liga, King’s Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. This remarkable year also saw Messi clinch his first Golden Ball award, setting the stage for potentially winning four consecutive titles.
The following year, in 2010, Messi once again secured the La Liga title and received the Ballon d’Or award alongside his Barcelona teammates Andrés Iniesta and Xavi, marking the first time the award was given to an entire team.
In the 2010-2011 season, Messi played a key role as Barcelona won their third straight La Liga title, and he propelled the team to a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League final with a goal and an assist.
Although Barcelona didn’t win La Liga or the Champions League in the 2011-2012 season, Messi made history by becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, surpassing Cear Rodriguez. By the end of 2012, Messi had an impressive total of 91 goals in all competitions, breaking a La Liga scoring record with 50 goals in a calendar year, a feat even Cristiano Ronaldo had not accomplished at that time.
In 2014, Messi equalled Raul’s record of 71 Champions League goals before being overtaken by Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in European football. During the 2014-2015 season, Messi delivered exceptional performances, leading Barca to its second “triple treble” in history and winning his fourth Golden Ball award. He also became La Liga’s all-time leading goalscorer.
In the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 seasons, Messi won a domestic double title. After Andres Iniesta’s departure in May 2018, Messi was named captain of Barca, guiding the team to the league title but facing a disappointing elimination by Liverpool in the Champions League.
Messi won his sixth Ballon d’Or in September 2019 and tried to leave Barca in August 2020 after an agreement with then-President Josep Maria Bartomeu, but he eventually decided to stay. Notably, Messi broke Pele’s record for the most goals scored for a single club with his 644th goal for Barca against Valladolid in December 2020.
In his final season at Camp Nou, Barca only managed to secure the King’s Cup and finished third in La Liga. The team was also eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League’s round of 16.