LIONEL ANDRES MESSILIONEL ANDRES MESSILionel Andrés Messi is an Lionel Andrés Messi is an

Argentine footballer who Argentine footballer who currently plays for currently plays for Barcelona and the Barcelona and the Argentine national team. Argentine national team.

Messi is considered to be Messi is considered to be one of the best football one of the best football players of his generation.players of his generation.

His playing style have drawn His playing style have drawn comparisons to football comparisons to football legend Diego Maradona.legend Diego Maradona.

EARLY LIFEEARLY LIFEMessi was born on 24

June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, to parents Jorge Messi, a factory worker, and Celia, a part time cleaner.

He has two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matias as well as sister named Maria Sol.

2009-2010 SEASON2009-2010 SEASON After winning 2009 UEFA After winning 2009 UEFA

Super Cup, Josep Guardiola Super Cup, Josep Guardiola asserted that Messi was the asserted that Messi was the best player he had ever seen.best player he had ever seen.

Messi signed a new contract Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona, running until with Barcelona, running until 2016 and with a buy-out 2016 and with a buy-out clause of €250 million clause of €250 million included, making Messi, along included, making Messi, along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the highest paid players in La highest paid players in La Liga, with earnings of around Liga, with earnings of around €9.5 million yearly.€9.5 million yearly.

INTERNATIONAL CAREERINTERNATIONAL CAREERIn 2004, he debuted for In 2004, he debuted for

Argentina,playing in an Argentina,playing in an under-20 match against under-20 match against Paraguay.Paraguay.

He was part of a team He was part of a team that won the 2005 FIFA that won the 2005 FIFA World Championship.World Championship.

He made his full He made his full international debut international debut against Hungary at 18 against Hungary at 18 years of age.years of age.

PERSONAL LIFEPERSONAL LIFE

Messi was at one stage romantically linked to Macarena Lemos, from his hometown of Rosario.

He is said to have been introduced to her by the girl's father when he returned to Rosario to recover from his injury a few days before the start of the 2006 World Cup.