Lionel Messi (full name Lionel Andres Messi) was born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario,
Argentina. He is an Argentine international footballer who currently plays for FC Barcelona in the Primera División, and for the Argentine national team.
Biography and Career :
He started playing football when he was just five years old at a club which was coached by his father. After three years he moved to Newell's Old Boys but after another three years he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency and the problems started for his family.
River Plate saw him playing and became interested about him but because they couldn't pay the money for his treatment they renounced to him. A scout from FC Barcelona heard about his
talent and after he saw him playing he offered him a contract and the chance to make his treatment in Spain, paid by the club.
He started to play at
Barcelona juniors and soon moved to Barcelona B Team where he scored 37 goals in 30 matches and became a young hope for the A team.
In 2003 he debuted for Barcelona in an unofficial game against FC Porto and after one year he debuted officially on Nou Camp against RCD Espaniol Barcelona and became the third-youngest player ever to play for FC Barcelona and youngest club player who played in La Liga (record broken by Bojan Krkić in September 2007)
The season 2005-2006 was very good for him and in the same time he earned the Spanish citizenship. In December of that year, the Italian newspaper Tuttosport awarded him the Golden Boy 2005 title for the best under-21 player in Europe, ahead of Wayne Rooney, Lukas Podolski, and Cristiano Ronaldo
He debuted in UEFA Champions League against Udinese. In the next season he succeeded to score 17 goals in 36 games and Barcelona upgrade his contract, For the Argentinean National team he played 26 games and scored eight times.
Trivia :
- Height: 169cm
- Position: Striker or right winger
- Number: 19
Honours :
With Argentina National Team:
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
Copa América 2007 second place
With FC Barcelona:
La Liga: 2004-05, 2005-06
Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006
Personal Honours:
Golden Ball: FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
Golden Boot: FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
Golden Boy: 2005
Bravo Award: 2007
World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007
Olimpia de Plata: Argentinian Player of the Year: 2005
FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 2006
FIFPro World XI: 2007
EFE Trophy: Best Ibero-American Player in La Liga: 2007
Best foreign player in La Liga: 2007
Copa America Best Young Player: 2007
France Football Player of the Year: 3rd place: 2007
World Soccer Footballer of the Year: 2nd place: 2007
FIFA World Player of the Year: 2nd place: 2007
SI Latino's 2007 Sportsman of the Year: 2007
Image source : © Action Images/WireImage.com
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