The Career
Lionel Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina, on June 24, 1987, to a family of Italian descent: his paternal great-great-grandfather, Angelo Messi, had emigrated from Recanati in 1883. As a child, he suffered from a growth hormone deficiency (hypopituitarism), which led Barcelona to bring him to Spain at the age of thirteen in 2000, taking care of his medical treatments and his football training at the famous La Masia academy.
His debut in the first team came on October 16, 2004. From that moment on, Messi became the symbol of modern Barcelona, winning ten La Liga titles, seven Copas del Rey, four Champions League titles, and accumulating unprecedented sporting records. In 2021, after 21 years of a Blaugrana career, he left the club for Paris Saint-Germain, where he won two Ligue 1 titles and played 75 matches.
On July 15, 2023, he signed with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, a club with which he has a renewed contract until 2028. With the Herons, he immediately won the 2023 Leagues Cup—the first trophy in the club's history—and in 2025, he lifted the MLS Cup. He won the MLS MVP award two consecutive times.
With the Argentine national team, for which he holds the record for appearances and goals, he participated in five World Cup editions (an absolute record). After losing the 2014 final, he finally won the world title at Qatar 2022, scoring in the final against France. He also won the 2021 Copa América and the 2024 Copa América. In 2026, he is preparing to play in the World Cup hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico with reigning champion Argentina.
Why Collect a Lionel Messi Autograph
Collecting an original Lionel Messi autograph means owning a tangible trace of the most decorated footballer in history. Eight Ballons d'Or, eight FIFA Best awards, a career that combined Barcelona's records, the European experience at PSG, and global consecration with Argentina in 2022: each Messi signature encapsulates a unique chapter of this epic journey.
The collectible value grows year by year for concrete reasons. La Pulga has announced that the 2026 World Cup will most likely be his last major international tournament. The renewal with Inter Miami until 2028 concludes his career within a limited and well-defined framework, making recent autographs—especially on Argentina and Inter Miami jerseys—increasingly sought after by collectors worldwide.
The most requested types are Argentina home jerseys with the number 10 (especially the 2022 World Cup version), Barcelona jerseys from the golden seasons, Inter Miami autographed jerseys post-MLS Cup 2025, and photos from iconic finals: Qatar 2022 against France, Copa América 2021 against Brazil, MLS Cup 2025 against Vancouver. Each relic represents a solid investment in the sports heritage of the 21st century.
Original Lionel Messi Autographs on MTM Memorabilia
MTM Memorabilia is the reference point in Italy for high-level collecting. Every original Lionel Messi autograph available on MTM is selected with rigorous criteria of provenance and authenticity by our experts. Every autographed item is always accompanied free of charge by an MTM Letter of Authenticity (LOA), a document issued by our experts that declares the provenance and veracity of the autograph according to our direct knowledge. Depending on the type and value of the item, MTM autographs may be accompanied by additional internationally recognized third-party certifications—including COAs issued by entities such as PSA, JSA, Beckett, Epperson, Autograph COA, or Associazione Autografia—included in the price or purchasable separately. Each product sheet precisely indicates the certification available for that specific item.