lionel messi

Lionel Messi Profile

• Full name: Lionel Andres Messi
• Date of Birth: 24 June 1987
• Birth place: Rosario (Argentina)
• Height: 5'6 and a half" (1.69 metres)
• Club: FC Barcelona
• National team: Argentina
• Shirt number: 10
• Position: Attacking midfielder (right/centre)
• Previous club(s): Newell's Old Boys (Argentina)
• Nickname/other names: Leo, La Pulga (The Flea), La Messiah

Lionel Messi Biography

Lionel Messi was born into the world on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Sante Fe Province (Argentina). Football came very naturally to Lionel and he began playing for his local team coached by his father, Grandoli, at the tender age of 5. In 1995, at just 8 years of age, Messi moved up the career ladder fast and joined Newell's Old Boys. However, it was not all a fairytale for Lionel and at 11 years of age, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, which would cast doubt over his entire career in the game. River Plate, Argentina's then most famous club, were interested in capturing Messi's signature, but could not afford the $800 per month treatment Lionel would require to treat his problem. Already on their radar, FC Barcelona intervened and offered Lionel the treatment if he was prepared to move overseas to Spain. Messi's family agreed to this and the beginning of his rise to stardom was quietly being etched.

Lionel Messi made an immediate impact at Barcelona playing in the youth teams, frequently the game's outstanding player. He soon forced his way into the Barcelona B team, notching a hugely impressive 37 goals in 30 games, a tally which was unheard of for an attacking midfielder.

In October 2004, Lionel was given his big opportunity in the FC Barcelona first team against Espanyol. Messi was the third ever youngest player to play for Barcelona. In May 2005, at the age of 17 years, 10 months and 7 days, Lionel scored his first ever senior goal against Albacete, making him Barcelona's youngest ever La Liga scorer.

Often referred to as an Argentinian-Spanish player, this crossover was brought into sharp focus when in 2004, Lionel was offered the chance to play for the Spanish national U20 team. He declined the offer given his Argentinian heritage and was given the opportunity to play for Argentina's U20 team against Paraguay in June 2004.

His international career did not take shape however until June 2005, during the U20 Football World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. Lionel Messi was a surprise substitute at the beginning of the tournament, being much younger than most of the other players on the team. However, he was given his opportunity, and since then, he never looked back. Messi was instrumental in guiding the Argentinian team to glory in the tournament, scoring six goals to earn himself both the Golden Boot award and the Golden Ball award (as the tournament's best player). His mazy, mesmerising runs had left the world in awe at such an outstanding young talent.

Following the display, Messi was hailed as Diego Maradona's true successor, even by the latter himself several months later. On June 27, 2005, to warn off other clubs, Barcelona offered Lionel Messi a contract extension which would contain a buyout clause of 150 Million Euros (30 Million more than the talismanic Ronaldinho), underlining how much the player meant to the club.

Messi's big international break came on August 4, 2005 when Argentina's then boss, Jose Pekerman, offered him the senior cap he had craved against Hungary. Messi lasted just 40 seconds in the match, being sent off for an elbow on Vilmos Vanczak. Messi left the pitch emotionally, a decision which was heavily criticised by many eminent figures, such as Maradona himself. Messi got another opportunity to make what he famously described as his "re-debut" in the country's next match against Paraguay.