His full name is Lionel Andrés Messi.

Messi who was born 24 June 1987 is an Argentine

soccer player and now participates for La Liga's Barcelona and the Argentine national team.
Messi is regarded as one of the best and famous soccer players of his generation, by the age
of 21, has received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations.

Messi started playing soccer at very early age and his latent was rapidly acclaimed by
Barcelona. Making his first appearance in the 2004-2005 season, he broke the La Liga record
for the youngest soccer player to take part in a league game, and the youngest to make a
league goal as well.
In 2005 he became the latest teen superstar of Argentine soccer. Lionel Messi was chosen as
the player of the tournament at under-20 World Cup on the year; played his first game for the
Argentine national team; and made his first goal with the professional team FC Barcelona.

Messi was almost immediately being compared to an earlier hero of Argentine soccer, Diego
Maradona. He was a member of Argentina's 2006 World Cup team. He assisted Barcelona
win an uncommon triple in 2009: the Copa del Rey, Spain's La Liga championship, and also
the Champions League.
Lionel Messi has been given countless praised from Argentinean coach Diego Maradona in
spite of their defeat to Spain. Maradona stated that he was pleased with the Barcelona striker
performance on the field.

On the occasion, Maradona asserted, "The match wasn't brilliant but the team responded well
against the champions of Europe. It works for me because the team reacted very well. "Messi
played marvelously well, and little by little he is becoming the leader of the team. It is what I
want and it is what I hope for."
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 Lionel Messi was born, 24 June 1987, in Rosario, Argentina to a working-class family. His
father was a factory steel worker, and his mother a cleaner.

He began playing from an early age, and his talent was soon apparent. However, at the age
of 11, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). This was a condition
that stunted growth and required expensive medical treatment, including the use of the drug
Human growth hormone.

His local club, River Plate were interested in signing Messi but didn’t want to pay for his
medical treatment. However, Messi was given a trial with Barcelona, and coach Carles
Rexach was impressed – offering Messi a contract (written on a paper napkin!) which
included paying for Messi’s treatment in Spain. Messi moved to Barcelona with his father
and became part of the prestigious FC Barcelona youth academy.

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