JTA — Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, has built one of football’s most decorated careers.

Throughout his illustrious career, Messi, Argentina’s No. 10, has cultivated a measured public image, rarely commenting on politics or becoming involved in major public controversies.

But the 39-year-old has occasionally made headlines for expressing support for Jewish causes and Israeli companies — and at times for being pulled into the tense geopolitical landscape of the Middle East by no doing of his own, including when a grandmother originally from Argentina credited him with saving her life when her Israeli kibbutz was attacked on October 7, 2023.

Messi’s past has roared into public view during this year’s World Cup, in which Argentina plays Switzerland in the quarterfinals at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas on Saturday night. Some critics of Israel have surfaced his past activities and affiliations to make the case that opposing Argentina is the anti-Zionist choice. Many Israelis, meanwhile, cheer on the team and its star player.

Ahead of the game, here’s a look back at 10 moments from Messi’s career — presented chronologically — where he and his fame intersected with Jewish and Israeli culture through public appearances, peace initiatives, controversies and more.

In July 2013, Messi sent a message to the Argentine Maccabiah team, a greeting before the national delegation departed for the “Jewish Olympics” in Israel.

It wasn’t the first time he demonstrated support for his country’s Jewish community — in 2011, he participated in a campaign for justice and memory of the victims of the 1994 AMIA Jewish center bombing that killed 85 people in Buenos Aires.

One month later, he visited the Western Wall on a “peace tour” with Barcelona FC, the famed Spanish team with which Messi spent the majority of his career.

The club hosted skills clinics for Israeli and Palestinian children and met Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat, president Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In September 2014, Messi supported a “match for peace” in Rome organized by Pope Francis to promote........

© The Times of Israel