Messi has been compared to compatriot Diego Maradona. He holds the record for highest scorer in a single season with 90 goals. His former FC Barcelona manager, Pep Guardiola, once stated: “Messi is the only player that runs faster with the ball than he does without it.”
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina to parents Jorge Horácio Messi, a factory steel worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. In 1995, Messi started playing for Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario. He became part of a local youth powerhouse that lost only one match in the next four years and became locally known as "The Machine of '87". At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. His family did not have enough money to pay for treatment for his condition. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, had been made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial with the team. Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered Messi a contract written on a paper napkin. Barcelona offered to pay for Messi's medical bills if he was willing to move to Spain. Messi and his father moved to Barcelona where Messi enrolled in the club's youth academy.
He made his full international debut on 17 August 2005 against Hungary at the age of 18. He was substituted on during the 63rd minute, but was sent off on the 65th minute for allegedly elbowing defender Vilmos Vanczák. Messi was later reportedly found weeping in the changing rooms. Messi returned to the team on 3 September in Argentina's 1–0 World Cup qualifier away defeat to Paraguay. He scored his first goal for Argentina in a friendly match against Croatia on 1 March 2006. On 28 March 2009, in a World Cup Qualifier against Venezuela, Messi wore the number 10 jersey for the first time with Argentina. His first hat-trick for Albiceleste came against Switzerland, on 29 February 2012 which the game ended 3–1 for Argentina.
In the 2006 World Cup match against Serbia and Montenegro, Messi became the youngest player to represent Argentina at a World Cup when he came on as a substitute in the 74th minute. He assisted a goal within minutes of entering the game and also scored the final goal in the 6–0 victory, making him the youngest scorer in the tournament and the sixth youngest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup. in the 2007 Copa América, Messi was elected young player of the tournament. In the gold medal match of 2008 Summer Olympics, Messi assisted the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Nigeria. For the 2010 World Cup, Messi wore the number 10 shirt for the first time in a major tournament. Messi was nominated in ten player shortlist for Golden Ball award by FIFA Technical Study Group.
Messi started playing in Barcelona's junior teams from 2000 to 2003. Season 2003–04 saw him on a record five different teams. Less than a year after his start, Frank Rijkaard gave him his league debut against RCD Espanyol on 16 October 2004 (at 17 years and 114 days), becoming the third-youngest player ever to play for Barcelona. In the 2006–07 season, Messi established himself as a regular first team player, scoring 14 times in 26 matches. Against RCD Espanyol, Messi scored a goal which was similar to Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal. Messi launched himself at the ball and connected with his hand to guide the ball past the goalkeeper. On 27 February, 2007 Messi played in his 100th official match for Barcelona. A poll conducted in the online edition of the Spanish newspaper Marca had him as the best player in the world with 77 percent of the vote. Upon Ronaldinho's departure from the club in 2008, Messi inherited his number 10 jersey. On 27 May he helped Barcelona win the Champions League by scoring a second goal in the 70th minute giving Barcelona a two goal lead; he also became the top scorer in the Champions League, the youngest in the tournament's history. Messi also won the UEFA Club Forward of the Year and the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year. Messi was named winner of the 2009 Ballon d'Or beating runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi scored the winner in the final of the 2009 Club World Cup against Estudiantes in Abu Dhabi. He was given the FIFA World Player of the Year award. In January, 2010 he scored his 100th goal for the club. He played his 200th official match for Barcelona on 24 March 2010. Messi won the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or, beating his Barcelona teammates Xavi and Iniesta. Messi started the 20011-12 season by lifting the Spanish Supercup with Barcelona. After scoring his first goal of an eventual hat-trick in an 8–0 rout against CA Osasuna, Messi produced a special celebration for Soufian, a 10-year-old Moroccan boy with Laurin Sandrow syndrome, a rare medical condition that can eventually lead to the loss of the lower extremities. Whilst Messi usually points to the sky after scoring a goal, Messi slapped his thighs as a dedication to Soufian. He scored his 200th Barcelona goal 2011. Messi won the 2011 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.
On 2 June 2012, He celebrated scoring his 23rd goal for Argentina, by placing the ball under his jersey, as his girlfriend, Antonella Roccuzzo was reportedly 12 weeks pregnant. On 2 November 2012, Messi became a father for the first time following the birth of his son Thiago. In 2007, Messi established the Leo Messi Foundation, a charity supporting access to education and health care for vulnerable children. On 11 March 2010 Messi was announced as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. His net wealth is estimated at $110 millon. Messi is sponsored by the German sportswear company Adidas and features in their television advertisements. Messi was named twice in the Time 100, list of the most influential people in the world, respectively in 2011 and 2012. His Facebook page had over 33 million followers in March 2012. In September 2012, Messi became the global brand ambassador of Turkish Airlines.
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina to parents Jorge Horácio Messi, a factory steel worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. In 1995, Messi started playing for Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario. He became part of a local youth powerhouse that lost only one match in the next four years and became locally known as "The Machine of '87". At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. His family did not have enough money to pay for treatment for his condition. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, had been made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial with the team. Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered Messi a contract written on a paper napkin. Barcelona offered to pay for Messi's medical bills if he was willing to move to Spain. Messi and his father moved to Barcelona where Messi enrolled in the club's youth academy.
He made his full international debut on 17 August 2005 against Hungary at the age of 18. He was substituted on during the 63rd minute, but was sent off on the 65th minute for allegedly elbowing defender Vilmos Vanczák. Messi was later reportedly found weeping in the changing rooms. Messi returned to the team on 3 September in Argentina's 1–0 World Cup qualifier away defeat to Paraguay. He scored his first goal for Argentina in a friendly match against Croatia on 1 March 2006. On 28 March 2009, in a World Cup Qualifier against Venezuela, Messi wore the number 10 jersey for the first time with Argentina. His first hat-trick for Albiceleste came against Switzerland, on 29 February 2012 which the game ended 3–1 for Argentina.
In the 2006 World Cup match against Serbia and Montenegro, Messi became the youngest player to represent Argentina at a World Cup when he came on as a substitute in the 74th minute. He assisted a goal within minutes of entering the game and also scored the final goal in the 6–0 victory, making him the youngest scorer in the tournament and the sixth youngest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup. in the 2007 Copa América, Messi was elected young player of the tournament. In the gold medal match of 2008 Summer Olympics, Messi assisted the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Nigeria. For the 2010 World Cup, Messi wore the number 10 shirt for the first time in a major tournament. Messi was nominated in ten player shortlist for Golden Ball award by FIFA Technical Study Group.
Messi started playing in Barcelona's junior teams from 2000 to 2003. Season 2003–04 saw him on a record five different teams. Less than a year after his start, Frank Rijkaard gave him his league debut against RCD Espanyol on 16 October 2004 (at 17 years and 114 days), becoming the third-youngest player ever to play for Barcelona. In the 2006–07 season, Messi established himself as a regular first team player, scoring 14 times in 26 matches. Against RCD Espanyol, Messi scored a goal which was similar to Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal. Messi launched himself at the ball and connected with his hand to guide the ball past the goalkeeper. On 27 February, 2007 Messi played in his 100th official match for Barcelona. A poll conducted in the online edition of the Spanish newspaper Marca had him as the best player in the world with 77 percent of the vote. Upon Ronaldinho's departure from the club in 2008, Messi inherited his number 10 jersey. On 27 May he helped Barcelona win the Champions League by scoring a second goal in the 70th minute giving Barcelona a two goal lead; he also became the top scorer in the Champions League, the youngest in the tournament's history. Messi also won the UEFA Club Forward of the Year and the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year. Messi was named winner of the 2009 Ballon d'Or beating runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi scored the winner in the final of the 2009 Club World Cup against Estudiantes in Abu Dhabi. He was given the FIFA World Player of the Year award. In January, 2010 he scored his 100th goal for the club. He played his 200th official match for Barcelona on 24 March 2010. Messi won the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or, beating his Barcelona teammates Xavi and Iniesta. Messi started the 20011-12 season by lifting the Spanish Supercup with Barcelona. After scoring his first goal of an eventual hat-trick in an 8–0 rout against CA Osasuna, Messi produced a special celebration for Soufian, a 10-year-old Moroccan boy with Laurin Sandrow syndrome, a rare medical condition that can eventually lead to the loss of the lower extremities. Whilst Messi usually points to the sky after scoring a goal, Messi slapped his thighs as a dedication to Soufian. He scored his 200th Barcelona goal 2011. Messi won the 2011 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.
On 2 June 2012, He celebrated scoring his 23rd goal for Argentina, by placing the ball under his jersey, as his girlfriend, Antonella Roccuzzo was reportedly 12 weeks pregnant. On 2 November 2012, Messi became a father for the first time following the birth of his son Thiago. In 2007, Messi established the Leo Messi Foundation, a charity supporting access to education and health care for vulnerable children. On 11 March 2010 Messi was announced as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. His net wealth is estimated at $110 millon. Messi is sponsored by the German sportswear company Adidas and features in their television advertisements. Messi was named twice in the Time 100, list of the most influential people in the world, respectively in 2011 and 2012. His Facebook page had over 33 million followers in March 2012. In September 2012, Messi became the global brand ambassador of Turkish Airlines.
Reference: Wikipedia; leomessi.com
Photo Courtesy: Google Images
Photo Courtesy: Google Images