He soon found himself starting for the Barcelona B team, averaging more than a goal per game, by scoring 35 goals in 30 matches. His family moved with the young player to Europe and he starred in the club’s youth teams.
As Argentina's economy was collapsing, Carles Rexach, then sporting director of FC Barcelona, was made aware of Messi's talent, 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. River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for the treatment of the illness, which cost over £500 a month. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.
In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys. At the age of five, he started playing football for Grandoli, a club coached by his father. Lionel Messi was born in Santa Fe Province on 24 June 1987. Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 20. He is regarded as the best football player of his generation and one of the best in the history of the sport. Often touted in the media as New Maradona, Messi has been publicly named as his "successor" by Diego Maradona himself. When first viewed it looks good, then after a second look you realise it is outrageously good – a cooly taken finish past Arsenal's Almunia.ġ0) Messi 4-1 Arsenal, Champions League 2010īarcelona knocked Arsenal the year too, when Messi was the man who made it happen with one of the all-time greatest individual performances.Lionel Andrés Messi (born 24 June 1987 in Rosario) is an Argentine international football player who played for FC Barcelona in the Primera División, and appears on Argentina's national team. He may have missed multiple chances earlier in the game, but in the 70th minute Messi brought home the bacon with this winner, his 27th league goal of the season.ħ) Argentina 1-0 Brazil, international friendly, 2010Ī classic Messi slalom against rivals Brazil in stoppage time.Ĩ) Estudiantes 1-2 Barcelona, FIFA Club World Cup, 2009Ī quality goal and an unusual header from the Atomic Ant.ĩ) Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal, Champions League 2011 Messi scored twice in this last 16 showdown.ĥ) Barcelona 6-1 Real Zaragoza, La Liga, 2009Īnother chip leaves the defence bamboozled and secured a huge win for Barca.Ħ) Barcelona 1-0 Valencia, La Liga, March 2011 Scoring this super strike in stoppage time secured a 3-3 draw against fierce rivals Madrid.Ĥ) Barcelona 4-0 Stuttgart, Champions League 2010Īfter a 1-1 draw in Stuttgart, Barca took them to the Nou Camp and gave them a thrashing. He might be criticised for not having the same impact at international level as he does for Barcelona, but you can hardly complain about this beautiful chip.ģ) Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid, La Liga 2007 This goal earned the young Argentine the nickname Messidona for an uncanny resemblance to his idol's solo effort against England in 1986 World Cup.Ģ) Argentina v Mexico – Copa America 2007 Here are the Argentine's top 10 bloomin' excellent goals…ġ) Messi is Maradona – Copa del Rey Final 2007 At the age of just 23, Messi is third on the list of Barcelona's all-time leading goal scorers with 179 in just 264 games. After his two Champions League goals against Real Madrid, Lionel Messi has an astonishing 52 goals this season.