Lionel Andrés Messi (born 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina) is an Argentine-Spanish football player, who currently plays for FC Barcelona. He is often touted in the media as the new "Diego Maradona". Messi has been publicly named as "Maradona's successor" by Diego Maradona himself. Lionel Messi was born in Rosario, Santa Fe Province and started playing football at a very early age for his hometown club, Newell's Old Boys. From the age of 11[citation needed], he suffered from a growth hormone deficiency. River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for the treatment of the illness, which cost over £500 a month, as Argentina's economy was collapsing at the time. FC Barcelona offered it would pay for the medical bills if he was willing to move to start a new life in Spain playing for the club. He rapidly found himself starting for the Barcelona B team, averaging more than a goal per game, by scoring 37 goals in 30 matches.Barcelona debut
In October 2004 Messi made his official debut for the first team against RCD Espanyol, becoming the third-youngest player to ever play for FC Barcelona. When he scored his first senior goal for the club against Albacete Balompié on May 1, 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.
Argentina U-20
Messi was offered the chance to play for the Spanish national side, but he declined, preferring to wait for the opportunity to play for the country of his birth. In June 2004 he got his chance, playing in an under-20 friendly match against Paraguay.
In June 2005 Messi starred for the Argentina U-20 team that won the Football World Youth Championship in Netherlands, picking up the Golden Boot as top scorer with 6 goals, and the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament. Despite his youth, Lionel was already being compared to Diego Maradona, one of the greatest football players of all time. On June 27, FC Barcelona renewed his contract until 2010, establishing a selling clause of €150 million (which happens to be 30 million more than his teammate in Barcelona, Ronaldinho).
International debut
On August 4, José Pekerman called him up to the senior Argentine national team. He made his debut against Hungary but was sent off after just 2 minutes and left the pitch in tears. Messi famously acknowledged his shortened initiation in international football before Argentina's next match against Paraguay saying "This is a re-debut, The first one was a bit short."
In October 2004 Messi made his official debut for the first team against RCD Espanyol, becoming the third-youngest player to ever play for FC Barcelona. When he scored his first senior goal for the club against Albacete Balompié on May 1, 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.
Argentina U-20
Messi was offered the chance to play for the Spanish national side, but he declined, preferring to wait for the opportunity to play for the country of his birth. In June 2004 he got his chance, playing in an under-20 friendly match against Paraguay.
In June 2005 Messi starred for the Argentina U-20 team that won the Football World Youth Championship in Netherlands, picking up the Golden Boot as top scorer with 6 goals, and the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament. Despite his youth, Lionel was already being compared to Diego Maradona, one of the greatest football players of all time. On June 27, FC Barcelona renewed his contract until 2010, establishing a selling clause of €150 million (which happens to be 30 million more than his teammate in Barcelona, Ronaldinho).
International debut
On August 4, José Pekerman called him up to the senior Argentine national team. He made his debut against Hungary but was sent off after just 2 minutes and left the pitch in tears. Messi famously acknowledged his shortened initiation in international football before Argentina's next match against Paraguay saying "This is a re-debut, The first one was a bit short."
Honours
With Argentina National Team:
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
With FC Barcelona:
La Liga: 2004-05, 2005-06
UEFA Champions League: 2005-06
Supercopa de España: 2006
Personal Honours:
Golden Ball: FIFA U-20 World Cup 2005
Golden Boot: FIFA U-20 World Cup 2005
Golden Boy: 2005
Olimpia de Plata: Argentinian player of the year 2005
2006 FIFPro World Young Player of the Year
