Messi stories

Birthplace: Santa Fe, Argentina

Date of Birth: 24th June 1987

Position: Forward

Height: 169cm

Weight: 67kg

Previous Teams:

Grandoli, Argentina; Newell’s Old Boys, Argentina

National Squad/Number of Appearances: Argentina/12+
Lionel Messi joined Barcelona in 2000 at the age of 13. Initially playing for the Under 14s, Messi moved up the ranks through the club’s Youth, C and B teams before joining the first team squad in record time. At the time of his first team debut in a friendly match in the 2003-4 season he was just 16 years of age. 

Facts about him

Messi became the youngest player ever to score a league goal for Barça  in 2005 in a very match against Albacete – aged simply 17 years, ten months and 7 days.

At 18 Messi played for Argentina within the Under 20 World Cup and won the title. He was conjointly voted best player of the tournament and was its leading goal scorer. Argentinean nice Maradona has named Messi as his natural successor.  The Spanish press have nicknamed him ‘Messidona’. Messi may be a left-footed player comfortable in the middle, on the wings or in a very centre forward position.

As a kid Messi suffered from a hormonal drawback that was preventing him from growing as normal. Barcelona tempted him to Spain by giving to assist with his medical bills.

Messi’s nickname with the Barcelona fans is Leo. He was asked to play his national football for Spain however selected to wait for a call up from Argentina.His initial senior decision up to the Argentinean team led to disaster - he was sent off when 40 seconds.When he came on to the pitch against Serbia and Montenegro within the 2006 World Cup, Messi became the youngest player to play for Argentina in an exceedingly World Cup tournament. His goal during this match created him the youngest scorer of this World Cup and therefore the sixth youngest scorer in the history of the tournament.

He has won two Spanish Supercups (2005-6/2006-7), two League Titles (2004-5/2005-half-dozen) and the Champions League (2005-6) with Barcelona. Messi is contracted to stay with Barcelona until 2014.