Lionel Andrés Messi (born 24 June 1987 in Rosario) is an Argentine international footballer who currently plays for FC Barcelona in the Primera División, and for the Argentine national team. He has drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, and indeed Maradona himself named Messi his "successor".[2]
Beginnings
Lionel Messi was born in Rosario city on 24 June 1987. At the age of five, he started playing football for Grandoli, a club coached by his father. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys.[3] At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.[4] River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for the treatment of the illness that cost over £500 a month, as Argentina's economy was collapsing.[citation needed] Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, was made aware of Messi's talent, and Barcelona signed him after watching him play,[5] offering to pay for the medical bills if he was willing to move to start a new life in Spain.[3] His family moved with the young player to Europe and he starred in the club’s youth teams.[5]
FC Barcelona
Messi made his unofficial debut for the first team against FC Porto on 16 November 2003. Less than a year later he made his official debut against Espanyol on 16 October 2004, becoming the third-youngest player ever to play for FC Barcelona and youngest club player who played in La Liga (a record broken by team mate Bojan Krkić in September 2007).[6] When he scored his first senior goal for the club against Albacete Balompié on 1 May 2005, Messi was 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old, becoming the youngest to ever score in a La Liga game for FC Barcelona until 2007 when Bojan Krkić broke this record, a goal assisted by Messi.[7]
Honours
With Argentina National Team:
* Flag of Argentina FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
* Flag of Argentina Copa América 2007 second place
With FC Barcelona:
* Flag of Spain La Liga: 2004-05, 2005-06
* Flag of Spain Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006
* Flag of Spain Uefa Champions League: 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[41]
* World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006[42], 2007[43]
* 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: 2006-2007[44]
* Best foreign player in La Liga: 2007[45]
* Copa America Best Young Player: 2007[46]
* France Football Player of the Year:
o 3rd place: 2007
* World Soccer Footballer of the Year:
o 2nd place: 2007[47]
* FIFA World Player of the Year:
o 2nd place: 2007[48]
* SI Latino's 2007 Sportsman of the Year: 2007[49]
More on Lionel Messi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi
Messi News
Messi, Agüero, Mascherano In Argentina Squad - Goal.com
Stage set for Messi Malaysia Star, Malaysia - 2 hours ago SYDNEY: The football world is in raptures over diminutive Argentine Lionel Messi as he prepares to become one of the show-stoppers at the Beijing Olympics. ...
Acosta: Don't Compare Me To Messi Or Aguero Goal.com, Switzerland - 4 Jul 2008 During his official presentation as a Sevilla player Lautaro Acosta stated that he doesn't want to be compared to fellow Argentines Lionel Messi or Sergio ...
Messi camp hint at Inter interest Setanta Sports, UK - 3 Jul 2008 by Tom Kell, 03 July 2008 Lionel Messi?s father looks to have opened the door on a surprise move away from Barcelona for his son, dropping a heavy hint that ...
