Lionel Messi Biography

(Lionel Andrés Messi, Rosario, Santa Fe, 1987) Argentinian footballer.
Possessing exceptional technical ability, a devilish speed and inexhaustible inventiveness, since he came from the hand of their parents at FC Barcelona, 13 years old, made a dizzying career by the different categories to the first team, which debuted with just 16 in a friendly match against Porto.

In 2004, at age 17, played his first official match of the Spanish league. At 18 he got his international recognition: he was part of the Argentina, World Junior champion in the Dutch Under-20 Championship in 2005. But his true hatching occurred with the arrival of Pep Guardiola at Barca bench: during the four seasons in which he led the team coach (2008-2012), his goalscoring statistics reached stratospheric levels, contributing decisively to Barca's lived best phase in its history with 14 titles made ​​possible 18.

Almost unanimously considered the best player of the moment, his individual talent has been recognized for three consecutive years with the Golden Ball (2009, 2010 and 2011).

Known as Leo or Pulga (Flea), pointed his immense quality and when he was five and played in the club in his hometown neighborhood run by his father and been reaffirmed when, after seven years, started playing in the lower divisions of Newell's Old Boys of Rosario.

At 10 years old, Messi are about to make the leap to the club River Plate in Buenos Aires, he detected a delay in bone development caused by low levels of growth hormones, medical treatment was very expensive, the clubs would not afford it and his father, who did not have the necessary financial resources, decided to emigrate with his family to Barcelona, where he had presented a working option.
In September 2000, Leo performed a test on the FC Barcelona coach Carles Rexach was amazed by his football talent and, in effect signing a contract on a paper napkin, he joined the club, who took charge of the boy's treatment. Messi was then thirteen years and measured 140 cm.