After settling a certain longstanding debate at the 2022 FIFA World Cup (Qatar) and obtaining the one accolade missing from his crowded trophy cabinet in the process, Lionel Messi has treated his winning teammates and support staff with personalised gold iPhones.
The 35-year-old Argentinian superstar commission 35 x 24-karat devices from iDesign Gold – each one bearing the recipient’s name, jersey number where applicable, as well as the Argentinian crest – and reportedly had them delivered to his Parisian apartment this past weekend. The total bill? £175,000 ($310,000).
“Lionel is not only the GOAT, but he’s one of iDesign Gold’s most loyal customers and got in touch with us a couple of months after the World Cup final,” confirmed Ben Lyons, CEO of iDesign Gold.
“He said he wanted a special gift for all the players and staff to celebrate the amazing win but didn’t want the usual gift of watches.
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While the historic victory certainly wouldn’t have been possible without his teammates, Messi – who is currently negotiating a contract extension with Paris Saint-Germain – recorded a performance for the books on the manicured grounds of Lusail Stadium:
| Stat | Total | Rank Amongst 2022 FIFA World Cup Players |
| Goals | 7 | 2nd |
| Expected Goals | 6.58 | 1st |
| Assists | 3 | =1st |
| Expected Assists | 1.95 | 2nd |
| Shots | 32 | 1st |
| Shots On Target | 18 | 1st |
| Shot Conversion Rate | 21.9% | =57th |
| Chances Created | 21 | 2nd |
| Dribbles Completed | 15 | 3rd |
| Dribble Success Rate | 45.5% | =57th |
| Touches In Opposition Box | 45 | 2nd |
| Successful Passes | 296 | 15th |
| Passes Played Into The Box | 49 | 2nd |
| Total Carries | 145 | 7th |
| Progressive Carries | 79 | 8th |
| Duels Won | 44 | 3rd |
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But his latest FIFA World Cup campaign is just the tip of the GOAT iceberg. Outside of hoisting the gilded statuette, the man has:
- Won the Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual prize, a record seven times (as well as beaning named to the Ballon d’Or Dream Team in 2020)
- Won a record six European Golden Shoes
- Won a club-record 35 trophies – including 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and four UEFA Champions Leagues – during his 17-season tenure at FC Barcelona alone; as well as being the club’s record appearance holder and top scorer at 672 goals across 778 games
- In addition to claiming the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2021 Copa America for Argentina
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And at the risk of sounding like a goddamn Wikipedia entry, other notable achievements include the following:
- Record for most goals in La Liga (474)
- Record for most goals in a La Liga & European league season (50)
- Record for most hat-tricks in La Liga (36) & the UEFA Champions League (8)
- Record for most assists in La Liga (192), a single La Liga season (21), & the Copa América (17)
- Record for most international goals by a South American male player (98)
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: greatness redefined.
