Lionel Messi-Professional soccer player

Lionel Messi-Professional soccer player.
Born: 24 June 1987(age 23)
Full Name: Lionel Andrés Messi
Place Of Birth: Rosario, Argentina.

Trivia :
- Height: 169cm
- Position: Striker or right winger
- Number: 19


Lionel Andres Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. His parents Jorge Horacio Messi (born 1958), a factory worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. He has two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matías as well as a sister named Maria Sol.


Messi, who stands just 5-foot 7-inches, at the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge. His start in the game at the age of 8, when he started playing for the Newell's Old Boys, a team in Rosario. Recognizably smaller than most of the boys he played with, at the age of 11, Messi was eventually diagnosed by doctors as suffering from a hormone deficiency that restricted his growth.


Medication wasn't cheap—about £500 a month—and Messi's parents couldn't afford to pay for it on their own. So, at the age of 13, when Messi was offered a chance to play for Barcelona with the opportunity to 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.




Club career
Barcelona:
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 forFC 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 becauseFC 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 .


In September 2005, Messi was given an improved and extended contract until 2014.



2010 World Cup
Messi played the entire game on Argentina's opening match 1–0 victory against Nigeria, he had several opportunities to score but was repeatedly denied by Vincent Enyeama. Messi started in Argentina's following 4–1 win against Korea Republic, he participated in all of the goals of his team and helped Gonzalo Higuain score a hat-trick. On the third and last group stage match Messi captained during Argentina's 2-0 win over Greece, again being the centrepoint of Argentina's play and was voted man of the match. At the Round of 16 he assisted Tevez for the first goal in a 3-1 win against Mexico, the referee awarded that goal even though it was a clear offside.
Charity:
In 2007 Messi established Fundacion Leo Messi, a charity supporting access to education and health care for vulnerable children. In an fansite interview, Messi said: “Being a bit famous now gives me the opportunity to help people who really need it, especially children."
Other:
Off the field Messi, who got his EU citizenship in 2009, has tried to make a name for himself. In early 2010, he was named a Goodwill Ambassador by UNICEF with a focus on fighting for children's rights across the globe.


Honours :
With Argentina National Team:
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
Copa America 2007 second place
With FC Barcelona:
La Liga: 2004-05, 2005-06
Supercopa de Espagna: 2005, 2006


Personal Honours:
Golden Ball: FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
Golden Boot: FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
Golden Boy: 2005 Bravo Award: 2007
World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007
Olimpia de Plata: Argentinian Player of the Year: 2005
FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 2006
FIFPro World XI: 2007
EFE Trophy: Best Ibero-American Player in La Liga: 2007


Best foreign player in La Liga: 2007
Copa America Best Young Player: 2007
France Football Player of the Year: 3rd place: 2007


World Soccer Footballer of the Year: 2nd place: 2007
FIFA World Player of the Year: 2nd place: 2007
SI Latino's 2007 Sportsman of the Year: 2007