Argentinian Lionel Messi plays soccer professionally.
The 2014 FIFA World Cup was the 20th FIFA World Cup , the quadrennial world championship for men 's national football teams organized by FIFA . The Argentina national football team ( [ Selección de fútbol de Argentina , links = no ] ) represents Argentina in football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association ( AFA ) , the governing body for football in Argentina . The Fédération Internationale de Football Association ( FIFA [ ˈfiːfə ] `` International Federation of Association Football '' ) is the international governing body of association football , futsal , and beach soccer . Lionel Andrés `` Leo '' Messi ( [ ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesi ] ; born 24 June 1987 ) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team . An Argentine international , Messi is his country 's all-time leading goalscorer .