Lionel Andrés Messi
Name: Lionel Andrés Messi
Nationality: Argentinian
Date and Place of Birth: Born 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina
Playing Position: Striker
Current Club:
FC Barcelona (Spanish La Liga)
Previous Clubs: Youth Clubs
1995-2000 Newell's Old Boys
2000-2004 FC Barcelona B
Professional Clubs
2004-present FC Barcelona
International Career: 2005 - present Argentina
About Lionel Messi:
Lionel Messi is living proof that no setback in life should keep you from following your dreams. At age 11 he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency despite having played for local club Newell's Old Boys from a young age and all promising signs of a future professional football career looked lost.
Messi’s parents decided that a move to Barcelona in Spain would help them find the treatment that their son needed to overcome his health problems and when they arrived in the Spanish city, the young Messi decided to try out for FC Barcelona as a 13 year old. The club were delighted with his talent and promised to pay for his medical treatment if he signed for them.
Goals swiftly followed at the rate of more than one a game for Barcelona’s B team and Messi made his debut for the Barcelona full team against Espanyol only a few months after his 17th birthday, scoring his first goal against Albacete Balcompie in May of the following year.
After turning down the chance to represent Spain at international level, Messi played for Argentina in the 2005 Football World Youth Championship scoring six goals and earning himself accolades as both the tournament’s top scorer and best player. His full international debut came in August of 2005 but was shortlived with Messi being sent off in tears after only three minutes on the pitch.
Messi built on his international reputation in the 2005/2006 season for Barcelona and earned himself rave reviews, most notably from Argentine superstar Diego Maradona who said that Messi was “Maradona’s successor”. Lofty praise indeed for a player barely 18 years of age.
A thigh injury late in the 2005/2006 season almost ruined Messi’s chances of representing Argentina at the 2006 World Cup in Germany but coach Jose Pekerman took a chance on him and he made several substitute appearances culminating in becoming the youngest player ever to represent Argentina at a World Cup and even bagging a goal in the 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro.
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