Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is a footballer.

He is from Argentina.
His job is to score goals.

Lionel loved playing football as a child. He

moved to Spain when he was 13. He trained
with Barcelona. He played with them for 21
years. He won many trophies there.

Lionel also played for Argentina. They won an Olympic

gold medal in 2008.

Lionel has won an award seven times for playing the

best football in the world. Lionel moved to a football
club in France.

He is one of the richest footballers.

Lionel helps people in need by

giving money to:
• charity
• children
• hospitals

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 Lionel Messi

Questions
1. Where is Lionel Messi from? Tick one.
Argentina
Spain
England
2. What did Lionel love doing as a child? Tick one. 
reading
playing football
singing
3. How many years did Lionel play with Barcelona? Tick one.
10
13
21
4. What Olympic medal did Argentina win in 2008? Tick one.
bronze
silver
gold
5. How many times has Lionel won an award for playing the best football in
the world? Tick one.
six
seven
eight

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 Lionel Messi

Answers
1. Where is Lionel Messi from? Tick one.
Argentina
Spain
England
2. What did Lionel love doing as a child? Tick one. 
reading
playing football
singing
3. How many years did Lionel play with Barcelona? Tick one.
10
13
21
4. What Olympic medal did Argentina win in 2008? Tick one.
bronze
silver
gold
5. How many times has Lionel won an award for playing the best football in
the world? Tick one.
six
seven
eight

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 Lionel Messi

Who Is Lionel Messi?

Lionel Messi was born in Argentina in 1987.
He is a footballer who plays as a forward.
His job is to score lots of goals for his team.

When Did Lionel Start Playing Did You Know…?

Football? Barcelona won
Lionel played for a team in Argentina when he many football
was a child. He moved to Spain when he was 13 trophies when
and he trained with Barcelona. Lionel played his Messi played
first game for them when he was 16. He was the for them.
youngest player and goalscorer in Spain. Lionel
was shorter than most of the other players. Fans
liked watching Lionel play. How Has
Lionel Helped
Lionel also played for Argentina. They won an Other People?
Olympic gold medal in 2008.
Lionel set up his
Lionel left Barcelona after 21 years. He own charity to help
moved to a French football club called Paris children. He gave
Saint-Germain. lots of money to
An award is given each year to a player who hospitals to help
has played the best football in the world. Lionel treat people with
has won this award seven times. coronavirus.

Did You Know…?

Lionel is one of the richest footballers in
the world.

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 Lionel Messi

Questions
1. How old was Lionel when he played his first game for
Barcelona? Tick one.
13
16
21
2. Draw three lines and match each question to its answer.

Where did Lionel

move when score goals
he was 13?

Who does Lionel’s

Spain
charity help?

What does a forward

children
do in football?

3. Number the events from 1-3 to show the order that they happened in
the text.
Argentina won a gold Olympic medal.
Lionel was born in Argentina.
Lionel moved to a French football club.

4. Fill in the missing word.

Lionel has won this seven times.
5. Look at the section How Has Lionel Helped Other People? Find and copy
one word which means the same as ‘make better’ or ‘heal’.

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 Lionel Messi

Answers
1. How old was Lionel when he played his first game for
Barcelona? Tick one.
13
16
21
2. Draw three lines and match each question to its answer.

Where did Lionel

move when score goals
he was 13?

Who does Lionel’s

Spain
charity help?

What does a forward

children
do in football?


3. Number the events from 1-3 to show the order that they happened in
the text.
2 Argentina won a gold Olympic medal.
1 Lionel was born in Argentina.
3 Lionel moved to a French football club.
4. Fill in the missing word.
Lionel has won this award seven times.
5. Look at the section How Has Lionel Helped Other People? Find and copy
one word which means the same as ‘make better’ or ‘heal’.
treat

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 Lionel Messi

Who Is Lionel Messi?

Lionel Messi was born in Argentina in
1987. He is a footballer who usually
plays in a forward position. A forward is
somebody who tries to score lots of goals
for their team.

When Did Lionel Start Playing Did You Know…?

Football? Barcelona won many
Lionel loved playing football. He played football championships
for a team in Argentina when he was a when Messi played
child. Then, he moved to Spain to train for them.
with the youth team for Barcelona when
he was 13. Lionel liked living in Spain Lionel also played
but his family found the move hard. for his home country
He stayed in Barcelona with his father Argentina. They won the
but the rest of his family returned to gold medal in the 2008
Argentina. Olympic Games. Then,
Lionel played his first game for they won a tournament
Barcelona when he was 16. He was the which was played with
youngest player and goalscorer in the other countries from
top Spanish football league. Lionel was South America.
shorter than most of the other players Lionel left Barcelona after
but he didn’t let that worry him. Fans 21 years and moved to a
liked watching Lionel play because of French football club called
his speed and football skills. Paris Saint-Germain.

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 Lionel Messi

Did You Know…? How Has Lionel Helped

Lionel is one of the Other People?
highest-paid footballers Lionel works with charities that help
in the world. young people. He also set up his own
charity to help children who need special
An award is given each care. Lionel gave a large amount of
year to a player who is money to hospitals in Argentina and
thought to have played Spain so that they could help people with
the best football in the coronavirus.
world. Lionel has won
this award seven times.

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 Lionel Messi

Questions
1. What position does Lionel play in football? Tick one.
defender
forward
goalkeeper

2. Draw three lines and match each question to its answer.

How many years

did Lionel play for 13
Barcelona?

How old was

Lionel when he 16
moved to Spain?

How old was Lionel

when he played
21
his first game for
Barcelona?

3. What club did Lionel move to after he left Barcelona?


4. Fill in the missing word.

Lionel works with that help young people.
5. Look at the first paragraph in When Did Lionel Start Playing Football?
Find and copy one word which means the same as ‘go back’.

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 Lionel Messi
6. What do you think is Lionel’s biggest success and why? Give reasons for
your answer. 




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 Lionel Messi

Answers
1. What position does Lionel play in football? Tick one.
defender
forward
goalkeeper
2. Draw three lines and match each question to its answer.

How many years

did Lionel play for 13
Barcelona?

How old was

Lionel when he 16
moved to Spain?

How old was Lionel

when he played
21
his first game for
Barcelona?

3. What club did Lionel move to after he left Barcelona?
Lionel moved to Paris Saint-Germain after he left Barcelona. 
4. Fill in the missing word.
Lionel works with charities that help young people.
5. Look at the first paragraph in When Did Lionel Start Playing Football?
Find and copy one word which means the same as ‘go back’.
returned

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 Lionel Messi

6. What do you think is Lionel’s biggest success and why? Give reasons for
your answer.
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I think Lionel’s biggest success is winning
the award for being the best football player seven times. I think that this
is incredible because it shows how talented he is out of all the players in
the world.

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