Lionel Messi

Early Career

-Although he was often homesick in his new country, Messi moved quickly through the junior system ranks, and by the age of 16, he had made his first appearance for Barcelona's Professional team. -Messi put himself in the record books on May 1, 2005, as the youngest player to ever score a goal for the team. -That same year, he led Argentina to the title in the under-20 World Cup, scoring on a pair of penalty kicks to propel the team over Nigeria.

Early life

-As a young boy, he tagged along when his two older brothers played soccer with their friends, unintimidated by the bigger kids. -At the age of 8, he was recruited to join the youth system of Newell's Old Boys, a Rosario-based club.

International Career

-Because Messi was brought up in Spain, since he was 11 years old, he has Spanish nationality. -In 2004, he was offered the chance to play for Spain's Under 20 side, but Messi decided to play for Argentina, the country of his birth. -He led Argentina to victory in the 2005 FIFA Youth championship.

Charity Work and Giving Back (2)

-He is also giving back to his home country by providing Argentinian children with the service of being treated in Spain to those who suffer from illness and paying all of their expenses. -Also, Messi gave his hometown, Rosario, Argentina, 600,000 euros to help rebuild a childrens hospital. -In addition, he provided the doctors with training in Spain and paying all the expenses.

Club Career (3)

-His landmark season led to his being named the 2012 world player of the year, which made Messi the first player to win the honour four times. -His 46 La Liga goals in 2012-13 led the league, and Barcelona captured another domestic top-division championship that season. -In 2014 he set the overall Barcelona goal record when he scored his 370th goal as a member of the team. -That same year he also broke the career scoring records for play in both the Champions League (with 72 goals) and La Liga (with 253 goals). -Messi helped Barcelona capture another treble during the 2014-15 season, leading the team with 43 goals

Club Career

-In 2005 he was granted Spanish citizenship, an honour greeted with mixed feelings by the fiercely Catalan supporters of Barcelona. -The next year Messi and Barcelona won the UEFA Champions League. -Messi's play continued to rapidly improve over the years, and by 2008 he was one of the most dominant players in the world, finishing second to Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo in the voting for the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year.

International Career (3)

-In 2006, he participated in the World Cup, becoming Argentina's youngest player to play in the world cup. -Argentina were eliminated in the quarter finals. -In 2008, he won an Olympic gold medal for Argentina in football at the Beijing Olympics. ----Initially Barcelona had not allowed him permission to play, but new coach Pep Guardiola allowed him time off.

Goal Scoring Records

-In 2012/13, Messi set an all time world record of scoring in 21 consecutive games (33 goals from 21 games) -He holds the Guinness World Record for most goals in a calender year - 86 goals during 2012. -He is the only player to score in four consecutive Champions League campaigns. -As of February 2014, Messi has scored 343 club goals out of 434 appearances (including Barcelona B team) -His international record for Argentina is 37 goals from 83 appearances.

Early Career (2)

-In the 2004-05 season Messi, then 17, became the youngest official player and goal scorer in the Spanish La Liga. -Though only 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 148 pounds, he was strong, well-balanced, and versatile on the field. -Naturally left-footed, quick, and precise in control of the ball, Messi was a keen pass distributor and could readily thread his way through packed defenses.

International Career (4)

-In the 2010 World Cup, Messi wore the number 10 shirt and played well to help Argentina reach the quarter finals, but Messi struggled to score and Argentina disappointingly lost 4-0 to Germany in the quarter final. -Messi has admitted he is desperate to play in a world cup final. -Success for Messi in the World Cup would be the last test of greatness.

World Cup 2014 (2)

-In the opening game against, Bosnia - Herzegovina, Messi scored a great goal to give Argentina a winning start. -He scored four goals to help Argentina reach the World Cup Final. -In the final, Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany. Messi was awarded 'Golden Ball' player of the tournament, though the decision was not universally supported.

Synopsis

-Lionel Messi was born as Luis Lionel Andres Messi on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. -He is one of the four children of Jorge Horácio Messi and Celia María Cuccittini along with two brothers and and one sister. -Lionel Messi is currently in a relationship with Argentinian model Antonella Roccuzzo and together have two children, Thiago Messi and Mateo Messi.

World Cup 2014

-Many commentators have stated that Lionel Messi has performed at his best in all competitions, except the World Cup. -In both the 2006 and 2010 World Cup, Argentina were knocked out in the quarter finals, with Messi not at his best. -The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is an opportunity for Messi to make an impact on the highest stage of them all.

Wealth and Income

-Messi has frequently been the target of other football clubs with big transfer budgets, but he has remained loyal to Barcelona FC. -He is one of the highest paid footballers in the world. -His base salary is estimated at €16 million net a year, until 2018. -His net wealth is estimated at €110m.

Club Career (2)

-Messi led Barcelona to La Liga and Champions League titles the following season, which helped him capture an unprecedented third consecutive world player of the year award. -In March 2012 he netted his 233rd goal for Barcelona, becoming the club's all-time leading scorer in La Liga play when only 24 years old.

International Career (2)

-Messi made his full international debut in August 2005, during a friendly against Hungary. -In his first game, Messi was sent off for allegedly elbowing a player. -The decision was contentious and not in keeping with Messi's style of play which is not dirty, and has very rarely been accused of diving.

Major International Accomplishments

-Olympic Gold Medal: 2008 -FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005 -2006 World cup - QF -2010 World cup - QF -2014 World cup - Runners up

Early Life (2)

-Recognizably smaller than most of the kids in his age group, Messi was eventually diagnosed by doctors as suffering from a hormone deficiency that restricted his growth. -Messi's parents, Jorge and Ceclia, decided on nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, though it soon proved impossible to pay several hundred dollars per month for the medication. -So, at the age of 13, when Messi was offered the chance to train at FC Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, and have his medical bills covered by the team, Messi's family picked up and moved across the Atlantic to make a new home in Spain.

Major Club Accomplishments

-Spanish La Liga title(*6) : 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13 -Spanish cup (*2)- Copa del Rey: 2008-09, 2011-12; Runner-up 2010-11 -Supercopa de España (*6): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013; Runner-up 2012 -UEFA Champions League (*3) : 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11 -UEFA Super Cup (*2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006 -FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011

Charity Work and Giving Back

-What many don't know is that many soccer athletes give back to society and Lionel Messi is a good example of an athlete that is giving back to society. -Messi has an estimated salary of about 110 million euros per year and much of his money goes towards charities. -The Lionel Messi Foundation which he founded in the year of 2007 is to help pay health care and education for vulnerable children.