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Pulse Sports details some untold facts about Lionel Messi who turns 38 today.
Football’s greatest just hit another milestone as Lionel Messi turns 38 today.
From Rosario to Camp Nou to global football royalty, Messi’s journey has been nothing short of epic.
But even with all the Ballon d'Ors, World Cup glory, and record-smashing performances, there’s a side to Messi many fans have never seen.
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You know the goals. You know the trophies. But in this article, Pulse Sports reveals 7 surprising facts about the legendary La Pulga.
Messi owns the most expensive car ever among footballers
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For starters, Messi owns a car that screams "GOAT status."
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Forget modesty for a second, because among his jaw-dropping car collection sits the Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti, a rare 1957 model that he reportedly purchased at an auction for a whopping ₦60.4 billion ($37 million).
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Yes, ₦60,420,000,000 — making it one of the most expensive cars ever sold.
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17:01 - 02.05.2023
Revealed: Lionel Messi's Top 10 Most Expensive Cars in his $598 million garage
Check out some of the most expensive cars owned by Lionel Messi including one that cost him over a staggering $34 million USD.
He married his childhood sweetheart
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Messi’s love story is a true fairytale.
The Inter Miami star married Antonela Roccuzzo, his childhood sweetheart, in 2017.
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The two have known each other since they were just 5 years old, growing up in Rosario, Argentina.
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Messi and Antonela met through her cousin Lucas Scaglia (a close friend of Messi’s) in Santa Fe.
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Their love was so strong that Antonela admitted she dropped out of school to move to Barcelona and be with Messi, forfeiting a potential career in dentistry.
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And today, she has risen to become one of the richest WAGs in the world, with an estimated net worth of $20 million, courtesy of several lucrative endorsement and ambassadorship deals including one with Adidas, the longtime sponsors of her husband.
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Antonela is more than just a WAG, she’s a businesswoman, influencer, philanthropist, and mother to their three sons: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro.
Messi is the second most followed individual on Instagram
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Messi’s not just a GOAT on the pitch, he’s a global force on Instagram.
As of June 2025, Messi ranks as the 2nd most-followed individual on Instagram, trailing only behind his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
He is also the most followed non-European individual in the world, the most followed South American, the most followed Argentinian in the world.
He currently boasts over 623 million followers across Instagram and Facebook alone. He is not on X(formerly known as Twitter).
Whether it's training clips, family moments, or World Cup throwbacks — Messi’s posts regularly break engagement records.
He is a Record-smashing, Trophy-lifting machine
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Let’s talk numbers. Messi has amassed:
44 major career trophies — the most in football history
8 Ballon d'Or titles — the most in football history, including one in 2023 after his heroic World Cup win
866 career goals and counting — 68 of those came from free-kicks alone
106 goals for Argentina — the country’s all-time top scorer
From Olympic gold to Copa América to the World Cup in Qatar, Messi has done it all.
He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at age 10
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This isn’t breaking news — but few fans realize just how dire Messi’s early days were.
At age 10, Messi was diagnosed with GHD (Growth Hormone Deficiency) — a rare condition that threatened his football future.
His family couldn't afford the $1,000-a-month treatment.
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Barcelona offered to cover his medical costs — and the rest is football folklore.
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Had they not stepped in, the world might have missed out on the greatest to ever do it.
He completed football in 2022 after retiring in 2016
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In December 2022, Lionel Messi cemented his legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time by winning the FIFA World Cup with Argentina.
After a career filled with club success, including Champions League titles, league trophies, and Ballon d'Or wins, the one missing piece in Messi’s illustrious career was international glory at the highest level.
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Six years after a shock retirement announcement, Messi finally had his moment in Qatar, where he led Argentina through a dramatic tournament, culminating in a thrilling final against France.
Messi’s performance was nothing short of legendary.
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With 7 goals and 3 assists, he was a constant force on the pitch, inspiring his teammates and dazzling fans worldwide.
The final, which ended 3-3 after extra time and was decided by penalties, saw Messi score twice and convert his spot-kick in the shootout.
By lifting the World Cup trophy, Messi completed the "football puzzle" and joined the pantheon of immortals.
For many fans and pundits, it was the ultimate validation of his greatness and end of the great debate against his eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
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He once scored a goal so good... it was compared to Maradona’s “Goal of the Century”
In 2007, a 19-year-old Messi successfully dribbled past SIX Getafe defenders and the goalkeeper to score one of the most iconic goals in football history.
It was instantly compared to **Maradona’s legendary 1986 World Cup goal** — and fans knew a new king had arrived.
Even the arabic commentary “Ankara Messi” from that game, forever lives in the hearts of fans till this day.
Fast-forward 18 years, and Messi has lifted the same World Cup Maradona once held.
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