Lionel Messi

Lionel Andrés Messi (; born 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe) is an Argentina association football of Italian people descent who plays for Spanish La Liga club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national football team. Messi is considered to be one of the best football players of Lionel Messi generation, having received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21. Lionel Messi playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to football legend Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi Lionel Messi "successor".

Messi began playing football at a young age and Lionel Messi potential was quickly identified by FC Barcelona. Lionel Messi left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with Lionel Messi family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for Lionel Messi growth hormone deficiency. Making Lionel Messi debut in the La Liga 2004–05, Lionel Messi broke the Football records in Spain for the youngest footballer to play a league game, and also the youngest to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won The Double of the league and UEFA Champions League 2004–05 in 2006. Lionel Messi breakthrough season was in 2006–07: Lionel Messi became a first team regular, scoring a Hat-trick Association_football in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Perhaps Lionel Messi most successful season was the La Liga 2008–09, in which Messi scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a The treble winning campaign.

Messi was the top scorer with six goals, including two in the final game of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. Shortly thereafter, Lionel Messi became an established member of Argentina's senior international team. In 2006 Lionel Messi became the youngest Argentine to play in the FIFA World Cup and Lionel Messi won a runners-up medal at the Copa América 2007 tournament the following year. In Beijing in 2008 Olympics Lionel Messi won Lionel Messi first senior international honour, an Olympic Games gold medal, with the Argentina Olympic football team.

Early life

Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, to parents Jorge Messi, a factory worker, and Celia (née Cuccitini), a part-time cleaner. Lionel Messi paternal family originates from the Italy city of Ancona where Lionel Messi ancestor, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883. At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by Lionel Messi father Jorge. At the age of 11, Lionel Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Primera División Argentina club Club Atlético River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for the treatment, as it cost $900 a month.

FC Barcelona

Messi made Lionel Messi unofficial debut for the first team in a friendly match against F.C. Porto on 16 November 2003 (at 16 years and 145 days). Less than a year later, Lionel Messi made Lionel Messi league debut against RCD Espanyol on 16 October 2004 (at 17 years and 114 days), becoming the third-youngest player ever to play for Barcelona and youngest club player who played in La Liga (a record broken by team mate Bojan Krkić in September 2007). until 2007 when Bojan Krkić broke this record, scoring from a Messi assist.

2005–06 season

On 16 September, for the second time in three months, Barcelona announced an update to Messi's contract – this time improved to pay Lionel Messi as a first team member and extended until June 2014. and was finally able to make Lionel Messi debut in La Liga 2005–06's La Liga. Messi's first home outing in the UEFA Champions League came on 27 September against Italian club Udinese Calcio. Fans at Barcelona's stadium, the Camp Nou, gave Messi a standing ovation upon Lionel Messi Substitute (association football), as Lionel Messi composure on the ball and passing combinations with Ronaldinho had paid dividends for Barcelona.

Messi netted six goals in seventeen league appearances, and scored one UEFA Champions League goal in six. Lionel Messi season ended prematurely on 7 March 2006, however, when Lionel Messi suffered a muscle tear in Lionel Messi right thigh during the second leg of the UEFA Champions League 2005-06 Round of 16 against Chelsea F.C.. Barcelona ended the season as champions of Spain and Europe.

2006–07 season

In the La Liga 2006–07, Messi established himself as a regular first team player, scoring 14 times in 26 matches. On 12 November, in the game against Real Zaragoza, Messi suffered a broken metatarsal, ruling Lionel Messi out for three months. Messi recuperated from Lionel Messi injury in Argentina, and Lionel Messi return to action came against Racing Santander on 11 February, where Lionel Messi came on as a second-half substitute. On 11 March, El Clásico saw Messi in top form, scoring a hat-trick to earn 10-man Barcelona a 3–3 draw, Equaliser (sports) three times, with the final equaliser coming in injury time. In doing so Lionel Messi became the first player since Iván Zamorano (for Real Madrid in the 1994–95 season) to score a hat-trick in El Clásico. Messi is also the youngest player ever to have scored in this fixture (scheduled match). Towards the end of the season Lionel Messi began finding the net more often; 11 of Lionel Messi 14 league goals for the season came from the last 13 games.
Messi also proved the "new Maradona" tag was not all hype, by near-replicating Maradona's most famous goals in the space of the single season. On 18 April 2007, Lionel Messi scored two goals during a Copa del Rey semi-final against Getafe CF, one of which was very similar to Maradona's Argentina_v_England_(1986) Hand_of_God against England national football team at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, known as the Goal of the Century. The world's sports press drew comparisons with Maradona, and the Spanish press labelled Messi as "Messidona". Lionel Messi ran about the same distance, , beat the same number of players (six, including the goalkeeper), scored from a very similar position, and ran towards the corner flag just as Maradona did in Mexico 21 years before. Against RCD Espanyol Messi also scored a goal which was remarkably similar to Hand of God goal in the World Cup quarter-finals. Messi launched himself at the ball and connected with Lionel Messi hand to guide the ball past the goalkeeper Carlos Kameni. Despite protests by Espanyol players the goal was allowed despite replays showing it was clear handball (soccer) (use of the hand, illegal in football). Lionel Messi scored two goals against FC Sevilla on 22 September and then on 26 September, Messi scored another two goals in a 4–1 victory over Real Zaragoza. On 27 February, Messi played in Lionel Messi 100th official match for FC Barcelona against Valencia CF.

Lionel Messi was nominated for a FIFPro World XI under the category of Forward. A poll conducted in the online edition of the Spanish newspaper Diario Marca had Lionel Messi as the best player in the world with 77 percent of the vote. Columnists from Barcelona-based newspapers El Mundo Deportivo and Sport (newspaper) stated that the Ballon d'Or should be given to Messi, a view supported by Franz Beckenbauer. Football personalities such as Francesco Totti have declared that they consider Messi to be one of the current best footballers in the world.

Messi was sidelined for six weeks following an injury on 4 March when Lionel Messi suffered a muscle tear in Lionel Messi left thigh during a Champions League match against Celtic F.C.. It was the fourth time in three seasons that Messi suffered this type of injury.

2008–09 season

Upon Ronaldinho's departure from the club, Messi inherited Lionel Messi number 10 jersey. On 1 October 2008, during a Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, Messi scored two goals during the last seven minutes, after coming on as a substitute for Thierry Henry, to turn the score from 1-0 to a 1-2 victory for FC Barcelona. The next league game was versus Atlético Madrid, a match billed as a friendly battle between Messi and Lionel Messi good friend Sergio Agüero. Messi scored a goal from a free kick and assisted another as Barça went on to win the match 6–1. Messi netted another impressive brace against Sevilla scoring a volley from and then Dribbling round the goalkeeper and scoring from a tight angle for the other. On 13 December 2008, during the first Clásico of the season, Messi scored the second goal in Barcelona's 2–0 win over Real Madrid. Lionel Messi was also named second in the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year awards with 678 points. Messi scored another important double on 1 February 2009, coming on as a second half substitute to help Barcelona defeat Racing de Santander 1-2 after being 1-0 down. The second of the two strikes was Barcelona's 5000th league goal. In the 28th round of La Liga, Messi scored Lionel Messi 30th goal of the season in all competitions, helping Lionel Messi team to a 6–0 victory over Málaga CF in the process. On 8 April 2009, Lionel Messi scored twice against FC Bayern Munich in the Champions' League, setting a personal record of nine goals in the competition. On 18 April, Messi notched Lionel Messi 20th league goal of the season in a 1–0 win at Getafe, allowing Barcelona to maintain their six point advantage at the top of the league table over Real Madrid.
As Barcelona's season was drawing to a close, Messi scored twice (his 35th and 36th goals in all competitions) to cap a 6-2 win over Real Madrid C.F. at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in what was Real's heaviest defeat since 1930. After scoring each goal, Lionel Messi ran towards the fans and the cameras lifting up Lionel Messi Barcelona jersey and showing another T-shirt that read Síndrome X Fràgil, Catalan for Fragile X Syndrome, to show Lionel Messi support for children who suffer from the affliction. Messi was involved in the build-up to Andrés Iniesta's injury time goal against Chelsea F.C. in the Champions League semi-final to send Barcelona through to face Manchester United F.C. in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final. Lionel Messi won Lionel Messi first Copa del Rey on 13 May, scoring one goal and assisting another two, in a 4–1 victory over Athletic Bilbao. Lionel Messi helped Lionel Messi team win the double by winning La Liga. On 27 May Lionel Messi helped Barcelona win the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final by scoring a second goal in the 70th minute giving Barcelona a two goal lead; Lionel Messi also became the top scorer in the Champions League with nine goals. This victory meant FC Barcelona had won the Copa del Rey 2008–09, La Liga 2008–09 and UEFA Champions League 2008–09 in the one season, and was the first time a Spanish club had ever won the treble (association football).

International career

In June 2004, Lionel Messi debuted for Argentina, playing in an under-20 friendly match against Paraguay national football team. In 2005 Lionel Messi was part of a team that won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. There, Lionel Messi won the 2005_FIFA_World_Youth_Championship Awards and the 2005_FIFA_World_Youth_Championship Awards.

Lionel Messi made Lionel Messi debut on 17 August 2005 against Hungary national football team at 18 years of age. Lionel Messi was substituted on during the 63rd minute, but was sent off on the 65th minute because the referee, Markus Merk, found Lionel Messi had Elbow (strike) defender Vilmos Vanczák, who was tugging Messi's shirt. The decision was contentious and Diego Maradona even claimed the decision was pre-meditated. Messi returned to the team on 3 September in Argentina's 1–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL) away defeat to Paraguay national football team. Ahead of the match Lionel Messi had said "This is a re-debut. The first one was a bit short." Lionel Messi then started Lionel Messi first game for Argentina against Peru national football team; after the match Pekerman described Messi as "a jewel".

On 28 March 2009, in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL) against Venezuela national football team, Messi wore the Argentine number 10 jersey for the first time. This match was the first official match for Diego Maradona as the Argentina coach. Argentina won the match 4–0 with Lionel Messi opening the scoring.

FIFA World Cup 2006

The injury that kept Lionel Messi from playing for two months at the end of the 2005–06 season jeopardised Lionel Messi presence in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless, Messi was selected in the Argentina squad for the tournament on 15 May 2006. Lionel Messi also played in the final match before the World Cup against the Argentine U-20 team for 15 minutes and a friendly match against Angola national football team from the 64th minute.
Lionel Messi witnessed Argentina national football team's opening match victory against Côte d'Ivoire national football team from the substitute's bench. In the next match against Serbia and Montenegro national football team, Messi became the youngest player to represent Argentina at a World Cup when Lionel Messi came on as a substitute for Maximiliano Rodríguez in the 74th minute. Lionel Messi assisted Hernán Crespo's goal within minutes of entering the game and also scored the final goal in the 6–0 victory, making Lionel Messi the youngest scorer in the tournament and the sixth youngest goalscorer in the history of the FIFA World Cup. Messi started in Argentina's following 0–0 tie against the Netherlands national football team.
In the following 2006 FIFA World Cup knockout stage Argentina vs Mexico, Messi came on as a substitute in the 84th minute, with the score tied at 1–1. Lionel Messi appeared to score a goal, but it was ruled Offside (association football) with Argentina needing a late goal in extra time to proceed. Coach José Pekerman left Messi on the bench during the quarter-final match against Germany national football team, which they lost 4-2 on a Penalty shootout (association football).

Copa América 2007

Lionel Messi played Lionel Messi first game in the Copa América 2007 on 29 June 2007, when Argentina national football team defeated United States men's national soccer team 4–1 in the first game. In this game, Messi showed Lionel Messi capabilities as a playmaker. Lionel Messi set up a goal for fellow striker Hernán Crespo and had numerous shots on target. Tevez came on as a substitute for Messi in the 79th minute and scored minutes later.

Lionel Messi second game was against Colombia national football team, in which Lionel Messi won a penalty that Crespo converted to tie the game at 1–1. Lionel Messi also played a part in Argentina's second goal as Lionel Messi was fouled outside the box, which allowed Juan Roman Riquelme to score from a freekick, and increase Argentina's lead to 3–1. The final score of the game was 4–2 in Argentina's favor and guaranteed them a spot in the tournament's quarterfinals.

In the third game, against Paraguay national football team the coach rested Messi having already qualified for the quarter-finals. Lionel Messi came off the bench in place of Esteban Cambiasso in the 64th minute, with the score at 0–0. In the 79th minute Lionel Messi created a goal for Javier Mascherano. In the quarter-finals, as Argentina national football team faced Peru, Messi scored the second goal of the game, from a Riquelme pass in a 4–0 win. During the semi-final match against Mexico national football team, Messi scored a lob over Oswaldo Sánchez to see Argentina through to the final with a 3-0 win. Argentina went on to lose 3-0 to Brazil national football team in the final.

2008 Summer Olympics

Having barred Messi from playing for Lionel Messi country in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Barcelona agreed to release Lionel Messi after Lionel Messi held talks with Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola. Lionel Messi joined the Argentina squad and scored the first goal in a 2–1 victory over Ivory Coast national football team. Lionel Messi also featured in Argentina's match against rivals Brazil national football team, in which Argentina took a 3–0 victory, thus advancing to the final. In the gold medal match, Messi again assisted Ángel Di María for the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Nigerian national football team.

Personal life

Messi was at one stage romantically linked to Macarena Lemos, a young Argentina from Lionel Messi hometown of Rosario, Santa Fe. Lionel Messi is said to have been introduced to her by the girl's father when Lionel Messi returned to Rosario to recover from Lionel Messi injury a few days before the start of the Fifa World Cup 2006. Lionel Messi has in the past also been linked to the Argentine model, Luciana Salazar. Lionel Messi was seen with the girl, Antonella Roccuzzo, They plan to wed near the end of 2010.

Lionel Messi is featured on the front cover of the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 and is also involved in promotional campaigns for the game. Messi, along with Fernando Torres, is the face of Pro Evolution Soccer 2010, and was also involved in the motion capturing and the Film_trailer Use_of_trailers_in_other_media.

Club statistics

As of 27 May 2009

International goals

Honours

Club

=Barcelona=

- La Liga: La Liga 2004-05, La Liga 2005-06, La Liga 2008-09
- Copa del Rey: Copa del Rey 2008–09
- UEFA Champions League: UEFA Champions League 2005-06, UEFA Champions League 2008-09
- Supercopa de España: 2005-2006, 2006-2007

National team

- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
- Summer Olympics: Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Individual

- Bravo Award: 2007
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
- Copa América: 2007
- Player of the Year of Argentina: 2005, 2007
- FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year: 2006-2007, 2007-2008
- FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008
- World Soccer Awards: 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008
- Don Balón: 2006-2007
- EFE: 2006-2007, 2007-2008
- FIFPro: 2006-2007, 2007-2008
- UEFA Champions League: 2008-2009
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2007-2008
- FIFA: 2007-2008
- Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2008-2009