Lionel Messi's 20-year journey in FC Barcelona
Li Chenqi
Lionel Messi in Barcelona's gear for the a UEFA Champions League game in October 20, 2004. /CFP

Lionel Messi in Barcelona's gear for the a UEFA Champions League game in October 20, 2004. /CFP

FC Barcelona players celebrate Messi's goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Albacete at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, May 1, 2005. /CFP

FC Barcelona players celebrate Messi's goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Albacete at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, May 1, 2005. /CFP

FIFA World player of the year winner Ronaldinho, the Gillette Best Young Player Award Leo Messi, and third place FIFA World player of the year Samuel Etoo pose with their trophies before La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Celta, at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, December 20, 2005. /CFP

FIFA World player of the year winner Ronaldinho, the Gillette Best Young Player Award Leo Messi, and third place FIFA World player of the year Samuel Etoo pose with their trophies before La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Celta, at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, December 20, 2005. /CFP

(L-R) Sergio Busquets, Gaby Milito, Xavi Torres, Carles Puyol, Carles Naval, Seydou Keita, Jose Manuel Pinto, Lionel Messi, Aureli Altimira, Gerard Pique, and Eric Abidal pose with the six trophies won by FC Barcelona in 2009 before the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, December 21, 2019. /CFP

(L-R) Sergio Busquets, Gaby Milito, Xavi Torres, Carles Puyol, Carles Naval, Seydou Keita, Jose Manuel Pinto, Lionel Messi, Aureli Altimira, Gerard Pique, and Eric Abidal pose with the six trophies won by FC Barcelona in 2009 before the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, December 21, 2019. /CFP

Messi celebrates his second goal with teammates during their Spanish first division soccer match against Sevilla at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona, Spain, November 22, 2014. /CFP

Messi celebrates his second goal with teammates during their Spanish first division soccer match against Sevilla at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona, Spain, November 22, 2014. /CFP

Barcelona's forward Neymar of Brazil, Lionel Messi of Argentina, and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal pictured at the Ballon d'Or 2015 awards in Zurich, Switzerland, January 11, 2016. /CFP

Barcelona's forward Neymar of Brazil, Lionel Messi of Argentina, and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal pictured at the Ballon d'Or 2015 awards in Zurich, Switzerland, January 11, 2016. /CFP

Messi celebrates scoring Barcelona's first goal with Luis Suarez and Neymar during the match against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage, Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, November 1, 2016. /CFP

Messi celebrates scoring Barcelona's first goal with Luis Suarez and Neymar during the match against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage, Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, November 1, 2016. /CFP

Players of FC Barcelona pose in a tribute to Messi for scoring his 500th goal before the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and CA Osasuna at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, April 26, 2017. /CFP

Players of FC Barcelona pose in a tribute to Messi for scoring his 500th goal before the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and CA Osasuna at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, April 26, 2017. /CFP

Lionel Messi and his children with the Ballon d'Or during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona vs. Real Mallorca at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, December 7, 2019. /CFP

Lionel Messi and his children with the Ballon d'Or during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona vs. Real Mallorca at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, December 7, 2019. /CFP

Messi after winning the Ballon d'Or France Football 2019 trophy at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris, France, December 2, 2019. /CFP

Messi after winning the Ballon d'Or France Football 2019 trophy at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris, France, December 2, 2019. /CFP

Messi clearly unsatisfied after the 2-8 loss against Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League quarter final match, Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal, August 14, 2020. /CFP

Messi clearly unsatisfied after the 2-8 loss against Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League quarter final match, Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal, August 14, 2020. /CFP

(Cover photo designed by Li Chenqi)