Lionel Andres Messi

Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He serves as the captain of his country's national football team. Born on June 24 1987 in Rosario Santa Fe Argentina and travelled to Barcelona to join Barcelona youth club. He is now thw best in the world. 

                                         

History of Messi (early days)

Messi was born in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, to parents Jorge Horácio Messi, a factory steel worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. His paternal family originates from the Italian city of Ancona, from which his ancestor, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883. He has two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías, and a sister, María Sol.At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario. He became part of a local youth powerhouse that lost only one match in the next four years and became locally known as "The Machine of '87", from the year of their birth.
At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Local powerhouse River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but were not willing to pay for treatment for his condition, which cost $900 a month. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, had been made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial with the team.Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered Messi a contract written on a paper napkin. Barcelona offered to pay for Messi's medical bills if he was willing to move to Spain. Messi and his father moved to Barcelona where Messi enrolled in the club's youth academy.
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Now he has become the unstoppable man in the world of football. He has won 4 balon'd or in a row. 

Facts of Messi

• Messi played in Barcelona's junior Infantil B and Cadete B & A teams from 2000 to 2003 (scoring 37 goals in 30 matches in Cadete A).
• In the 2006-07, Messi established himself as a regular first team player, scoring 14 times in 26 matches.
• On 27 February, Messi played in his 100th official match for Barcelona against Valencia CF.
• Messi was nominated for a FIFPro World XI Player Award under the category of Forward.
• Upon Ronaldinho's departure from the club, Messi inherited his number 10 jersey.During this season he placed second in the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year awards with 678 points and third in the 2008 IFFHS World's Best Playmaker Award for the second consecutive year.
• Messi scored his first hat-trick of 2009 in a Copa del Rey tie against Atlético Madrid which Barcelona won 3–1.
•  On 27 2009 May he helped Barcelona win the Champions League by scoring a second goal in the 70th minute giving Barcelona a two goal lead; he also became the top scorer in the Champions League, the youngest in the tournament's history, 
• Messi was the highest scorer in Champions leauge for 3 consecutive seasons.
• He is the only player to win FIFA Balon D'Or 4 times in row. ( 2009-2013 )
• Messi has also scored a goal with his hand like Maradona.
• Messi doesnot have very good stamina because of his medication. He cannot head the ball well beacuse he has problem with his head.
• Messi has won 2 Club world Cups. 

This guy is just 26 now which means there is more to come. What can this magician do in the 2013/14 season with Neymar on his side now.