Birthday:1987/06/24
Full name:Lionel Andres Messi
Place of Birth:Rosario, Argentina
Height:1.69 m (5 ft 61⁄2 in)
Weight:67 kg
Position:Attacking midfielder/ Forward
Nickname(s):"the new Diego Maradona", The Flea
Wife / girlfriend:Antonella Rocuzzo
Lives in:Barcelona
About Lionel Messi
Game Style
Messi is an unusual player. He is highly creative, and has the skills to take on defenders with ease. He is a versatile left-footed player who can play either in the middle or on either wing, or even as a centre forward.
Not very tall Messi makes up for the lack of height in speed and agility,allowing him to change speed and direction in a heart beat. Making him a true problem for the larger defenders. Also his shot power and accuracy make him truly unique in free kick and corner situations.
Leo Messi is cool-headed and able to assume several responsibilities in times of need. He is a player who is destined to have a very successful career in football.
He has drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, and indeed Maradona himself named Messi his “successor”.
Messi's Background
Lionel Messi was born in Rosario city on June 24, 1987. At the age of five, he started playing football for Grandoli, a club coached by his father. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for the treatment of the illness that cost over £500 a month. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, was made aware of Messi's talent, and Barcelona signed him after watching him play, offering to pay for the medical bills if he was willing to move to start a new life in Spain. His family moved with the young player to Europe and he starred in the club’s youth teams.
Club Football
FC Barcelona
Messi made his unofficial debut for the first team against FC Porto on November 16, 2003. Less than a year later he made his official debut against Espanyol on October 16, 2004, becoming the third-youngest player ever to play for FC Barcelona and youngest club player who played in La Liga (a record broken by team mate Bojan Krkić in September 2007). When he scored his first senior goal for the club against Albacete Balompié on May 1, 2005, Messi was 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old, becoming the youngest to ever score in a La Liga game for FC Barcelona until 2007 when Bojan Krkić broke this record, a goal assisted by Messi.
Messi made spectacular progress at each of the different age levels, climbing through the ranks of the different youth teams and then Barça C, followed by Barça B and the first team in record time.
In the 2003-2004 season, when he was still only 16, Messi made his first team debut in a friendly with Porto that marked the opening of the new Dragao stadium. The following championship-winning season, Messi made his first appearance in an official match on October 16, 2004, in Barcelona's derby win against Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium (0-1).
With several first team players seriously injured, the services of several reserve team players were called upon, and Messi became a regular feature of Barça squads. On May 1, 2005, he became the youngest player ever to score a league goal for FC Barcelona - against Albacete when Messi was only 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old. That record would eventually be beaten by Bojan.
At the Under 20 World Cup in Holland, Messi not only won the title with Argentina, but was also the leading goalscorer and was voted best player in the tournament. Aged 18 years, he had become one of the hottest properties in the world game. Shortly after, he made his first full international appearance in a friendly against Hungary.
His breakthrough as a player came in the 2005-06 season, starting with an amazing performance in the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Juventus. He was also outstanding at the Santiago Bernabéu, in Barcelona's unforgettable 3-0 win, and also at Stamford Bridge, in the Champions League match against Chelsea. Injury kept him sidelined for much of the latter stage of the season. Messi played a total of 17 league games, 6 in the Champions League and 2 in the Copa del Rey. Messi scored eight goals.
International Football
Argentina Under-20
In June 2004, he got his chance, playing in an under-20 friendly match against Paraguay. In 2005 he was part of the team that won the Under-20 World Cup in Holland. He also won the prize for best player of the tournament and became top-scorer.
Argentina National Team
On August 4, 2005, José Pekerman called Messi up to the senior Argentine national team. He made his debut on August 17, 2005 against Hungary, but it was a forgettable occasion. He was substituted on during the 63rd minute, but was sent off after just 40 seconds, because the referee, Markus Merk, found he had elbowed defender Vilmos Vanczák, who was tugging Messi's shirt, and left the pitch in tears. The decision was contentious. Maradona even claimed the decision was pre-meditated. Messi then had his first international start on September 3 in Argentina's 0-1 World Cup qualifier away loss against Paraguay. Ahead of the match he had said "This is a re-début. The first one was a bit short."
Copa America 2007
Messi played his first game in Copa America on 29 June, 2007, when Argentina defeated United States 4-1 in the first game. In this game, Messi showed his capabilities as a playmaker. He set up a goal for fellow striker Hernán Crespo and had numerous shots on target. Tevez came on as a substitute for Messi in the 79th minute and scored minutes later.
His second game was against Colombia, in which he caused a penalty that Crespo converted to tie the game at 1-1. He also played part in Argentina's second goal as he was fouled outside the box, which allowed Juan Roman Riquelme to score from a freekick, and increase Argentina's lead to 3-1. The final score of the game was 4-2 in Argentina's favor and guaranteed them a spot in the tournament's quarterfinals.
In the third game, against Paraguay the coach rested Messi having already qualified for the quarter-finals. He came off the bench in place of Esteban Cambiasso in the 64th minute, with 0-0. In the 79th minute he created a goal for Javier Mascherano. In the quarterfinals, as Argentina faced Peru, Riquelme made a pass to Messi and the latter scored the second goal for Argentina, which advanced to the semifinals after a 4-0 win.
In the semi finals against Mexico, Messi scored when he spotted the Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez off of his line and chipped the ball into the goal. The goal ultimately helped his team to a 3-0 victory and earned them a place in the final against Brazil, which Argentina subsequently lost 3-0.
Awards and Honours
With Argentina National Team;
- 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup
- 2007 Copa América, second place
With FC Barcelona;
- 2004-2005 La Liga Championship
- 2005-2006 La Liga Chmapionship
- 2005 Supercopa de España
- 2006 Supercopa de España
- 2005-2006 UEFA Champions League
Personal Awards
- Golden Ball: 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup
- Golden Boot: 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup
- Golden Boy: 2005
- Bravo Award: 2007
- World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007
- Olimpia de Plata: 2005 Argentinian Player of the Year
- FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 2006
- FIFPro World XI: 2007
- EFE Trophy: 2006-2007 Best Ibero-American Player in La Liga
- Best Foreign Player in La Liga: 2007
- Copa America Best Young Player: 2007
- World Soccer Footballer of the Year: 2nd Place, 2007
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 2nd Place, 2007
- SI Latino's 2007 Sportsman of the Year
Lionel Messi Girlfriend/wife
| 2011/12 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| Argentina | Int | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Season Totals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010/11 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| Barcelona | La Liga | 31 | 2 | 31 | 18 | 150 | 80 | 22 | 57 | 3 | 0 |
| Argentina | Int | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Argentina | WC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Barcelona | UCL | 11 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 69 | 35 | 17 | 37 | 0 | 0 |
| Barcelona | Esp Cup | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Season Totals | 55 | 6 | 51 | 22 | 255 | 130 | 45 | 119 | 5 | 0 |
| 2009/10 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| Barcelona | CWC | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Barcelona | Super C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Argentina | WCQ | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 11 | 33 | 1 | 0 |
| Barcelona | Esp Cup | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Barcelona | UCL | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 52 | 28 | 10 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| Argentina | Int | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Barcelona | La Liga | 30 | 5 | 34 | 10 | 163 | 86 | 29 | 84 | 3 | 0 |
| Season Totals | 58 | 6 | 49 | 11 | 233 | 119 | 53 | 158 | 7 | 0 |
| 2008/09 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| Barcelona | La Liga | 27 | 4 | 23 | 11 | 114 | 50 | 26 | 83 | 2 | 0 |
| Barcelona | UCL | 10 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 32 | 11 | 8 | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| Barcelona | Esp Cup | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Argentina | Oly | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Argentina | WCQ | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 33 | 1 | 0 |
| Season Totals | 54 | 10 | 42 | 18 | 154 | 67 | 47 | 141 | 6 | 0 |
| 2007/08 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| Argentina | WCQ | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Barcelona | UCL | 12 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 37 | 19 | 7 | 31 | 2 | 0 |
| Barcelona | La Liga | 23 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 68 | 33 | 33 | 72 | 2 | 0 |
| Barcelona | Esp Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Season Totals | 40 | 5 | 20 | 14 | 114 | 55 | 41 | 115 | 5 | 0 |
| 2006/07 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| Barcelona | Super C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Argentina | WC | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Barcelona | Esp Cup | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Argentina | Int | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barcelona | La Liga | 23 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 46 | 15 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Barcelona | UCL | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Season Totals | 34 | 6 | 19 | 3 | 56 | 20 | 48 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2005/06 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| Barcelona | UCL | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barcelona | La Liga | 11 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 32 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Season Totals | 15 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 52 | 18 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2004/05 Statistics |
| TEAM | Competition | GS | SB | G | A | SH | SG | FC | FS | YC | RC |
| Barcelona | La Liga | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barcelona | UCL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sporting greatness ( not good,not excellent, but time transcendent Greatness & beyond ) is beholden on someone when that person takes it upon themselves to be the active protagonist , element, cause & instigator during the big moments, & during unique transcendental events. Not only does that person contribute - with a pass -, but defines the result - with goals. The evidence of the existence is experience, & when the above repeats itself on all levels it makes the observation into a fact. FC Barcelona player LIONEL MESSI could well be that example, a Football example, of theory being proven via continuous experiments that give the same viable & steady result which turns it into fact.
Greatness ( same definition as above ) cannot be given if the theory cannot be proven, observed or experienced. The theory needs to be observed, but more importantly, needs to stand empirical testing on repeated occasions & experiments to make it a viable & stable truth. The "test tube" for greatness (Football in this case) are again as already said, the big moments, the all important events that gives the individual the World stage & all the spot lights, to be observed. 
