1. The birth of a star:
Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina and it’s the birthplace of Argentinian revolutionary Che Guevera.
His family is of middle class with Italian origin. His father, Jorge
worked as a steelworker to make living. But the football gene was within
him as he also coached local youth football team.
2. The rough childhood:
Like the other boys around, he was not
as healthy and nutritious. Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone
deficiency at the age of 11. His treatment cost was $900 a month, which
is not affordable for his middle class family.
3. The contract:
Messi’s passion for football was never
stopped. He was so skillful from his very childhood with football like
he is today. FC Barcelona’s sporting director Carles Rexach
was so impressed watching his footballing skills that he made Messi at
the age of 13, signed for Barcelona on a napkin paper! He wanted to make
the deal immediately and at that time there was no paper available on
that place. Meanwhile Barcelona took the responsibility to pay his
medical bills.
4. At Barcelona:
Messi made his league debut at the age
of 17 against RCD Espanyol and became the third youngest player ever to
play for Barcelona. That’s not all. He made himself the youngest player
ever for Barcelona to score.
During 2005/06 season, Lionel Messi
began being paid as a first team member in Barcelona. In his Spanish
first division League appearance, he scored six goals in 17 matches.
In the summer 2008, Messi inherited No 10 Barca jersey from another great footballer Ronaldinho.
5. His achievements:
Lionel Messi is an Olympic gold medalist
in 2008, Beijing along with Argentina football team. For Barcelona he
has won eight La Ligas, four copa Del Reys, six spanish Supercups, four UEFA
Champions Leagues, two Club World Cups and three UEFA Super Cups.
He won record four times FIFA Ballon
d’Or in 2009,10,11,12 and 2015. In 2009, Messi was awarded FIFA World
Player of the Year. He also won three European Golden shoe awards.
Messi has become the only player to have scored 91 goals in a calendar year both for his club and his country.
6. His humanitarian activities:
He is the Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF
for many years. Messi also works for the people suffering from autism.
On March 2013, he donated $812,000 towards the refurbishment of a
children’s hospital in his hometown Rosario, Argentina. The child
oncology unit at that hospital was renovated with that money. The money
was also paying for doctors to travel to Barcelona for better training.
7. His comparisons to legend
Lionel Messi’s stature and playing style
have drawn comparisons to the Argentine legend Diego Maradona. Maradona
has already declared Messi as his successor. But it was lionel Messi as
the first Argentine ever to be named FIFA Player of the year, NOT
Maradona! However, the award was created in 1991 and at that point the
downfall of Maradona had begun after he picked the World Cup in 1986.
8. His family, his sons:
His sons Thiago Messi and Matteo Messwas born on
November 2, 2012. Thiago is already an official member of the Newell’s
old Boys’ supporters club at the age of 72 hours!
Messi loves his kids so much that he
tattooed their names and handprints on his left calf. Messi spends
most of his pastimes playing with Thiago and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo.
9. He is modest:
Lionel Messi has been a very shy person
right from his childhood. This trait of his character continues to until
even now. Apparently, he rarely talks on the phone. The most important
messages delivered to him and received by him take place through SMS.
10. His goal celebration:
Messi’s goal celebration
We always see him raising both hands in the air
after scoring a goal, this is just not any part of his celebration. This gesture is to
pay tribute and thanks to his grandmother who were very much close to
him. He lost his grandma at the age of 10. He always believes she is up
there and watching him from above. That’s his way of showing that he
would always be grateful to her.
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