Lionel Messi Biography

Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi Biography

Lionel Messi Biography & Profile
Full name: Luis Lionel Andrés Messi
Birth day: June 24, 1987
Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina
Nationality: Argentinian
Other nationality: Spanish
EU passport: Yes
Height 5.7FT - 1.69M
Weight: 67 kg
Club: FC Barcelona
Debut: 17 November 2003
Playing position: Attacking Midfielder/Striker
World cups: Germany 2006
Idol: Maradona
Compared to: Maradona
Best Known As: Goal-scoring Argentine forward for FC Barcelona
Caps: 18
Goals: 10




Early career

Lionel Andres Messi was brought into this world on 27th June 1987. At the age of six, Messi started playing football for Grandoli. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with 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 that cost $1500 a month. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, was made aware of Messi'stalent, and Barcelona signed him after watching him play, offering to pay for the medical bills if he was willing to move to start a new life in Spain.
His family moved to Europe and he started in the club's youth teams.Playing in the Primera Division for Barca and being the driving force for his national team, Messi has made an ever lasting impression on the football world within a very short span of time. Due to his on field heroics he is already being dubbed as the next Maradona. Being compared with Maradona is the best complement an Argentine footballer could ever receive as Diego Maradona is the very definition of football excellence in the world
In the 2003-2004 season, when he was still only 16, Messi made his first team debut in a friendly with Porto that marked the opening of the new Dragao stadium. The following championship-winning season, Messi made his first appearance in an official match on October 16, 2004, in Barcelona`s derby win against Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium (0-1).
With several first team players seriously injured, the services of several reserve team players were called upon, and Messi became a regular feature of Barça squads. On May 1, 2005, he became the youngest player ever to score a league goal for FC Barcelona - against Albacete when Messi was only 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old.
He was offered the chance to play for the Spain national football team, but declined, prefering to wait for the opportunity to play for the country of his birth. In June 2004 he got his chance, playing in a U-20 friendly match against Paraguay.
Lionel Messi wearing FC Barcelona`s colorsIn June 2005 he starred for the Argentina U-20 team that won the Football World Youth Championship played in The Netherlands. Messi picked 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 has already drawn comparisons with Diego Maradona, arguably the best football player of all time.
On September 25, 2005 Messi obtained a Spanish citizenship and was finally able to make his debut in this season`s Spanish First Division. He had previously been unable to play because FC Barcelona had filled up all of their quota of non-EU players.
Messi`s first outing in the UEFA Champions League at the Nou Camp was on Sept 28 against Italian club Udinese. He impressed with some great passing and a seemingly telepathic relationship with Ronaldinho that earned him a standing ovation from the 70,000-odd Nou Camp faithful. On December of that year, the Italian newspaper Tuttosport awarded him the Golden Boy 2005 title for the best under-21 player in Europe, over Wayne Rooney and Lukas Podolski






CHARACTERISTICS

Messi is an unusual player. He is highly creative, and has the skills to take on defenders with ease. He is a versatile left-footed player who can play either in the middle or on either wing, or even as a centre forward.
Although he is quite short, he is so fast and physically strong that he can cope with larger opponents. He is incredibly powerful, and a specialist in such dead ball situations as corners, free kicks and penalties.
Leo Messi is cool-headed and able to assume several responsibilities in times of need. He is a player who is destined to have a very successful career in football.
Lionel Messi became the latest teen superstar of Argentine soccer in 2005. That year he was named the player of the tournament at under-20 World Cup; played his first game for the Argentine national team (against Hungary on 17 August); and scored his first goal (on 1 May) with the professional team FC Barcelona, where he played alongside another South American sensation, Ronaldinho. That year Messi also turned 18. He was soon being compared to an earlier Argentine soccer hero, Diego Maradona. Like Maradona, Messi is an attacking, goal-scoring forward; Barcelona's official site calls him "highly creative." Messi was a member of Argentina's 2006 World Cup team.


Private Life

Messi has been linked to Arab pop star Nayad Nassar, Costarican María José Castillo and various other superstars. Despite this, Messi has been constantly rejecting any associations with any of these women. In spite of this, Nayad "Nani" Nassar has been quoted in various interviews saying that Messi and herself share a "unique relationship" based mostly on their "vivid sex life".


Key Skill:
Amazing ability to dribble at speed and pass with an effortlessness and surprise not seen for some time. He lays the ball off when you list expect it or without stopping is forward dribbling momentum.


Trivia

His cousin Maximiliano Biancucchi plays for Brazilian side Flamengo.
In June 2005, Messi played in the 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.
On April 18, 2007, Messi scored two goals during a Copa del Rey semi-final against Getafe CF, one of which was very similar to Maradona’s famous goal against England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, known as the Goal of the Century.


Quotes

"It was obvious from his first attack on me that he went in to kick me on the knee. It meant the second time he came in really hard, he was going over the ball with the intention of hurting me. That was why I jumped and that is the only reason he did not do real damage."
We can't be overconfident. It happened to us when we were leading 2-1 in last year's game. Chelsea has players who can score two goals at any moment and we have to realize we have achieved nothing yet."
Something deep in my character allows me to take the hits and get on with trying to win."
I want to avoid comparisons because for me there has never been anyone quite like him."
"I rushed to get back before it was time."