Lionel Messi

WHO IS MESSI ?

• His full name is Lionel Andrés Messi. He was born in 24 June 1987, so he is 27 years old. He is just 169 centimetres tall. In 2000 he moved with his family to Europe. He began playing foolball at young age and his potential was quickly Barcelona.

He is considered to be one of the best football players of his generation. Making his debut in the 2004-2005 season, he broke the La Liga record for the youngest footballer, and also the youngest to score a league goal.

• Messi was the top scorer with six goals, including two in the final game of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. Barcelona won with Messi’s debut UEFA Champions League in 2006. His breakthrougth season was in 2006-07, finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games.

Perhaps his most successful season was in 2008-09 season in which scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble winning campaign.

Early life• His father, Jorge Messi, was

working in factory. His mother, Celia, was a part-

time cleaner. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. The sporting director of Barcelona signed him after watching him play.

• He lived in the “Masia”, with people like Iniesta. He played in the low teams of Barça, but soon he would pass to the first team. the reason? The injuries of the players.

luck

• In 2006 he played his first worlds’cup with his selection, Argentina. He played well but they didn’t win. In August 2007 he played America’s cup where Argentina lost in the final, against Brasil.

A good experience

2009-10 season• After winning the 2009

UEFA Super Cup, Barcelona manager asserted that Messi was probably the best player he had ever seen.

On 18 September, Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona, running until 2016.

Messi took his goal tally to six goals in seven games in La Liga.

• On 19 December, Messi scored the winner in the final of the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup against Estudiantes.

Two days later, he was given the FIFA World Player of the Year award; beating Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, Kaká and Iniesta to the award.

On 17 January 2010, Messi scored his 100th goal for the club in the 4–0 victory over Sevilla.

• His friends in the team have always claimed that he is a very good football player,a very good person. When he arrived at the 1st team they helped him, now is his shift, he helped his friends

in the difficult moments.

extraordinary

Personal life• He is a romantic,

happy and helpful person. He has girlfriend who is smart and nice.

Messi likes video games and the football history. In the spare time he read books of the older football players.

Messi, along with Fernando Torres, is the face of Pro Evolution Soccer 2010.

The end