Lionel Messi — The Beast
Early Life: The Beginning of the Best Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987. He was born in the city of Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. Messi’s parents were Jorge Horacio Messi and Celia Maria Cuccittini.
Messi has two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, and a sister, Maria Sol. At the age of 5, Messi started playing soccer for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father. At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Barcelona offered to pay Messi’s medical bills on the condition that he moved to Spain. Messi and his farther moved to Barcelona, where Messi enrolled in the club’s youth academy.
National Team: Spain or Argentina?
Lionel was offered the chance to play for the Spanish national U-20 team. He declined the offer given his Argentine heritage and was given the opportunity to play for Argentina in a friendly match against Paraguay.
He made his full international debut on 17 August 2005 against Hungary at the age of 18. He was substituted on during the 63rd minute, but was sent off in the 65th minute because the referee claimed that Messi had allegedly elbowed a defender who was tugging Messi’s shirt.
Messi says
“I start early, and I stay late, day after day after day, year after year. It took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success.”
Quiz #2
What teams has he played for?
Argentina
Barcelona
Brazil
Real Madrid
World Cup Dreams
An injury that kept Messi from playing for the two months at the end of the 2005–6 season meant he had no presence in the 2006 World Cup. In the following year Messi played his played his first game defeating the United States 4–1 in the first game of the COPA America.
Having banned Messi from playing for Argentina in the 2008 Olympics, Barca agreed to release him after he held talk with newly appointed coach Pep Guardiola
Messi’ idol was Diego Maradona’s. Messi learned to dribble like Maradona — here’s Maradona scoring in the 1986 Wolrd Cup against England and it’s said to be the best goal EVER scored.
Quiz #3
Which foot does Messi favor?
Right
Left
What position does he play in FC Barcelona (true or false)?
Goal Keeper
Striker
Mid Field
Coach
Is Messi best known for his headers?
Yes
Messi’s Clubs: Continued On-field Success
Messi played in FC Barcelona junior, Youth B and Cadette B & A team from 2000–2003, scoring 37 goals in 30 matches in Cadete A.
He started one match in Junior B and scored one goal and then got promoted to Youth AC where he scored 21 goals in 14 matches. Later he debuted for the FC Barcelona C team (Tercera Division) on 29 November 2003 and for FC Bardcelona B (Segunda Division B) on 6 March 2004.
Less than a year after his start, Frank Rijkaard gave him his La Liga debut against RCD Espanyol on 16 October 2004 at the age of 17 years and 114 days making him the third-youngest club player to play in La Liga.
Quiz #4
Messi used to have long hair. True or False?
How many siblings does Messi have?
One
Two
Three
Four
Why was he told he could never play football?
Growth hormone deficiency
He has no legs
He is blind
He always played baseball.
Top 10 Messi Goals
Originally published at www.yayasoccer.com.
