Lionel Messi
Short Info:
Name: Lionel Andrés Messi
Nationality: Argentinean
Date and Place of Birth: 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina.
Position: Playmaker
Current Club: Fc Barcelona
Previous club: Newell's Old Boys (1995-2000)
International Career: 2005 to present
Little Boy Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi Bio:
Messi started playing football from very earlier of his age. He was only Eight years old when he started playing for Argentinean local club Newell's Old Boys. His father was a factory worker and mother was a cleaner. So they were unable to pay enough money for their son's football training. But Messi was very talented player from his childhood. And thats helped him to became a football legend.
Carles Rexach, the sporting director of Barcelona, had been made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida, Catalonia, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial. Barcelona signed him after watching him play, offering to pay for the medical bills if he was willing to move to Spain. His family moved to Europe and he started in the club's youth teams.
Lionel Messi
Argentina Career:
Messi's first appearance for the Albiceleste (White and Sky blue) came against Hungry on August 17, 2005 but he was sent-off within two minutes of coming on for elbowing an opponent.
He featured at the 2006 World Cup in Germany but coach Jose Pekerman was reluctant to hand him free rein and he started just one match.
Barcelona did not want Messi to play in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing but an agreement was reached and he duly helped his county win the gold medal.
There was a perception among some critics that Messi under performed at the World Cup, as Argentina reached the quarter-finals. He did not score (doing everything but), but demonstrated his sublime talents against Nigeria and South Korea in the group stages. He may not have been at his very best, but the 2010 World Cup was by no means a write-off for Messi who often shone in his position behind the strikers.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
