Leo 'The Messiah' Messi


Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team as a forward or winger. He also holds Spanish citizenship, which makes him eligible as a EU player.  Messi received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player 2009 and 2010. His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi his "successor".
 24 June 1987, Messi was born at at the Hospital Italiano Garibaldi in Rosario, Santa Fe, to parents Jorge Horacio Messi, a factory worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner.
1992, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge.
1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario.
1998, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.
2000, His family moved to Europe and he started in the club's youth teams as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency.
He soon found himself starting for the Barcelona B team, averaging more than a goal per game, by scoring 37 goals in 30 matches.
16 Nov 2003, at 16 years and 145 days, in a friendly match against Porto, Messi made his official debut for the first-team.
June 2004, Messi debuted for Argentina, playing in an under-20 friendly match against Paraguay.
16 Oct 2004,at 17 years and 114 days, Frank Rijkaard let him make his league debut against RCD Espanyol.
1 May 2005, at 17 years ten months and seven days old,he scored his first senior goal for the club against Albacete Balompié.
2 Jul 2005, he was part of a team that won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. There, he won the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe.
17 Aug 2005, against Hungary at the age of 18. Messi was substituted on during the 63rd minute, but was sent off on the 65th minute because the referee, Markus Merk, found he had headbutted defender Vilmos Vanczák, who was tugging Messi's shirt.
26 Sep 2005, Messi obtained Spanish citizenship.
27 Sep 2005, Messi debuted in UEFA Champion League against Udinese.
1 Mar 2006, Messi Scored his first goal for Argentina Senior.
7 Mar 2006, Messi suffered a muscle tear in his right thigh during the second leg of the second round Champions League tie against Chelsea.
17 May 2006, Messi and Barcelona as champions of La Liga Spain and UEFA Champion  League.
16 Jun 2006, Messi became the youngest player to represent Argentina at a World Cup when he came on as a substitute for Maxi Rodríguez in the 74th minute in the match against Serbia and Montenegro. He also scored in this game.
18 Apr 2007, During a Copa del Rey semi-final against Getafe CF, Messi scored goal which was very similar to Maradona's famous goal against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, known as the Goal of the Century.
10 Jun 2007, Against RCD Espanyol Messi also scored a goal which was remarkably similar to Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal against England in the World Cup quarter-finals. Messi launched himself at the ball and connected with his hand to guide the ball past the goalkeeper Carlos Kameni. Despite protests by Espanyol players and replays showing it was clear handball, the goal stood.
2007,  Messi established the Leo Messi Foundation, a charity supporting access to education and health care for vulnerable children.
23 Aug 2008, Messi and Argentina got Olympic Gold Medal at 2008 Olympic games in China.
28 Mar 2009, Messi wore the number 10 jersey for the first time with Argentina in a World Cup Qualifier against Venezuela.  This match was the first official match for Diego Maradona as the Argentina manager. Argentina won the match 4–0 with Messi opening the scoring.
1 Dec 2009, Messi was named winner of the 2009 Ballon d'Or.
19 Dec 2009, Messi scored the winner in the final of the 2009 Club World Cup against Estudiantes in Abu Dhabi, giving the club their sixth title of the year.
21 Dec 2009, Messi was given the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
3 Jun 2010, Messi was named La Liga player of the year for the second year in a row.
10 Jan 2011, Messi won the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or, beating his Barcelona teammates Xavi and Iniesta.

Personal Information :
Full name                    : Lionel Andrés Messi
Date of birth               : 24 June 1987
Place of birth              : Rosario, Argentina
Height                         : 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position          :  Forward / Winger
Nick Name                  :  Leo, La Pulga

Awards and honours

Club
Barcelona
La Liga: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010
Copa del Rey: 2009
Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010
UEFA Champions League: 2006, 2009
UEFA Super Cup: 2009
FIFA Club World Cup: 2009

Argentina
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
Olympic Gold Medal: 2008

Individual
Ballon d'Or: 2009
FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
FIFA Ballon d'Or: 2010
FIFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010
U-21 European Footballer of the Year: 2007
Onze d'Or: 2009
La Liga Player of the Year: 2009
La Liga Forward of the Year: 2009
La Liga Foreign Player of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2010
La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2010
Marca La Liga Player of the Year: 2009, 2010
La Liga top goalscorer: 2010
FC Barcelona top goalscorer: 2009, 2010
European Golden Shoe: 2010
UEFA Champions League top goalscorer: 2009, 2010
UEFA Champions League Player of the Year: 2009
UEFA Champions League Forward of the Year: 2009
UEFA Champions League Final Fan's Man of the Match: 2009
UEFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010
Footballer of the Year of Argentina: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
FIFPro World Player of the Year: 2009, 2010
FIFPro World XI: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008
FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year: 2007, 2008
FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Tournament: 2005
FIFA U-20 World Cup top goalscorer: 2005
Copa América Young Player of the Tournament: 2007
World Soccer Player of the Year: 2009
World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008
FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009
ESM Team of the Year: 2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10
Marca Leyenda: 2009
Tuttosport Golden Boy: 2005
UEFA best goal of the year: 2007

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