Lionel Messi Biography

Lionel Messi Biography – The Argentina football superstar Lionel Messi, has made name for himself, setting records for scored goals and has won individual awards which have all gained him worldwide recognition as one of the super talented best soccer players.

In this Lionel Messi biography we are going to reveal so many things you may not have known about this great soccer player. You will get to know his home country, birth date, his parents, early lifestyle and so many more.

The Synopsis

Born in Rosario, Argentina his home country on June 24, 1987, the footballer player later moved to Spain while at the thirteen (13) years of age. The move to Spain came after FC Barcelona club accepted to support Messi pay for hormone-deficiency treatment, a problem the player suffered in his early life stage.

In his new country of base in Spain, Messi became a star leading his club Barca to several championships. He set a record for most goals scored in 2012 calendar year, and in 2016, he was named Europe’s Ballon d’Or winner for the fifth time.

Early Years

Lionel Messi was born Luis Lionel Andres Messi on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina where he started playing football with his fellow kids. But before then, Messi tagged along with his two older brothers who played soccer with their friends.

Although he would play unintimidatingly with the bigger ones, he was later at the age of 8, recruited into the youth system of Newell’s Old Boys, a football club based in Rosario.

Messi was later diagnosed with by a doctor as suffering a hormone deficiency which had led to his restricted growth, this has also made Messi recognizably smaller than most of the kids in his age group.

When it became almost impossible for Messi’s parents, Jorge and Ceclia, to pay for the hormone injections for their son which would cost several hundred of dollars per month for the medication, they later accepted the offer made for Messi to train at soccer powerhouse FC Barcelona’s youth academy , La Masia and the have his medical bills responsibility covered by the team, and Messi was just 13 then.

On accepting the offer, Messi and family then set and moved to make a new home in Spain.

The Soccer Superstar

While in Spain, Messi made a quick move through the junior system ranks and by the age of 16, he had made his first appearance for Barcelona. On May 1, 2005, the player landed himself in the record books as the youngest player to ever score a goal for the franchise.

That same year, he propelled the Argentina team over Nigeria in the under-20 world Cup where he scored on a pair of penalty kicks.

Ever since, Messi has recorded amazing success for Barcelona, notably among others is in 2009, when the team took the champions league, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup titles.

Known for his speed and relentless attacking style, Messi took home his first FIFA “World Player of the Year” honor(Ballon d’Or award) that same year after two consecutive runner-up finishes.

The player continued to improve, and growing into what could be termed a soccer wizard, he later led Barca to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup championship in 2010 and 2011 and also the ’11 Champions League title.

In 2012, he entered on an all-out assault on the record books. He became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League match in early March, and a few weeks later he surpassed Cesar Rodriguez’s club-record 232 goals to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer. By the end of 2012, Messi had accumulated an astounding 91 goals in club and international play, eclipsing the 85 netted in a single calendar year by Gerd Muller in 1972. Fittingly, he broke another record when he was named the FIFA Ballon d’Or winner for the fourth time in January 2013.

Despite facing persistent hamstring injuries, he later regained his record-breaking form, becoming the all-time leading scorer in La Liga and Champions League play in late 2014.

Lionel Messi, after supporting Barca make a historic second treble in 2015, Messi was honored with his fifth FIFA Ballon d’Or trophy.

Career and Controversy

Lionel Messi notwithstanding his achieved success with Barcelona FC, has come under fire for his inability to support his country national team win a major title.

Just in July 2016, Lionel Messi and his faced a blow when a Barcelona court found them guilty of three counts of tax fraud. Though denied breaking the law and claimed unaware of tax illegalities committed, however, they both were sentenced for 21 month imprisonment.

Under Spanish law, first offenses under two years are suspended so they will not go to jail, but Messi will pay a fine of 2 million euros and his father is required to pay 1.5 million euros.

Activism and fatherhood

Almost universally regarded as the best soccer player in the game, Messi has made the commercial face of soccer with endorsements from so many big companies including Adidas, Pepsi, EA Sports and Turkish Airways, among other companies. In accordance with Forbes.com, as of 2016, considering Lionel Messi salary plus bonuses and endorsements, Messi is the second highest paid athlete in the world after fellow soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo.

Off the field, he lives a quiet and private lifestyle. Lionel Messi has found ways to help out others in need. With his Leo Messi Foundation formed in 2007, providing support for the disadvantaged youths. In early 2010, UNICEF named him a goodwill ambassador, with a focus on fighting for children’s rights across the globe.

Messi became a father in November 2012, when his girlfriend, Antonella Roccuzzo, gave birth to a son, Thiago. In September 2015, their second son, Mateo, was born.