Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (Spanish pronunciation: [ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesiborn 24 June 1987) is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team as a forward or winger. He also holds Spanish citizenship, which makes him eligible as a EU player. Considered one of the best football players of his generation frequently cited as the world's best contemporary playerMessi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21 and won both by the age of 22 He also won the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or at the age of 23. His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi his "successo
Messi began playing football at a young age and his potential was quickly identified by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004–05 season, he broke his team record for the youngest footballer to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and Champions League in 2006. His breakthrough season was in the 2006–07 season; he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Messi then had the most successful season of his playing career, the 2008–09 season, in which he scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble-winning campaign. This record breaking season was then eclipsed in the following 2009–10 campaign, where Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, equalling Ronaldo's record total for Barcelona.
Messi was the top scorer of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship with six goals, including two in the final game. Shortly thereafter, he became an established member of Argentina's senior international team. In 2006, he became the youngest Argentine to play in the FIFA World Cup and he won a runners-up medal at the Copa América tournament the following year. In 2008, in Beijing, he won his first international honour, an Olympic gold medal, with the
* 2 Club career
o 2.1 Barcelona
+ 2.1.1 2005–06 season
+ 2.1.2 2006–07 season
+ 2.1.3 2007–08 season
+ 2.1.4 2008–09 season
+ 2.1.5 2009–10 season
+ 2.1.6 2010–11 season
* 3 International career
o 3.1 2006 World Cup
o 3.2 2007 Copa América
o 3.3 2008 Summer Olympics
o 3.4 2010 World Cup
* 4 Outside football
o 4.1 Personal life
o 4.2 Charity
o 4.3 Media
* 5 Career statistics
o 5.1 International
o 5.2 International goals
+ 5.2.1 Under–20
+ 5.2.2 Under–23
+ 5.2.3 Senior team
* 6 Awards and honours
o 6.1 Club
o 6.2 Argentina
o 6.3 Individual
* 7 Notes
* 8 References
* 9 External linksMessi was born on 24 June 1987 at the Hospital Italiano Garibaldi in Rosario, Santa Fe, to parents Jorge Horacio Messi (born 1958), a factory worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. His paternal family originates from the Italian city of Ancona, from which his ancestor, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883 has two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matías as well as a sister named María Sol At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge.In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiencyPrimera División club River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for treatment for his condition as it cost $900 a month.Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC 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 playoffering 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 He has two cousins also involved in football; Maxi and Emanuel Biancucchi
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Messi began playing football at a young age and his potential was quickly identified by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004–05 season, he broke his team record for the youngest footballer to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and Champions League in 2006. His breakthrough season was in the 2006–07 season; he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Messi then had the most successful season of his playing career, the 2008–09 season, in which he scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble-winning campaign. This record breaking season was then eclipsed in the following 2009–10 campaign, where Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, equalling Ronaldo's record total for Barcelona.
Messi was the top scorer of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship with six goals, including two in the final game. Shortly thereafter, he became an established member of Argentina's senior international team. In 2006, he became the youngest Argentine to play in the FIFA World Cup and he won a runners-up medal at the Copa América tournament the following year. In 2008, in Beijing, he won his first international honour, an Olympic gold medal, with the
* 2 Club career
o 2.1 Barcelona
+ 2.1.1 2005–06 season
+ 2.1.2 2006–07 season
+ 2.1.3 2007–08 season
+ 2.1.4 2008–09 season
+ 2.1.5 2009–10 season
+ 2.1.6 2010–11 season
* 3 International career
o 3.1 2006 World Cup
o 3.2 2007 Copa América
o 3.3 2008 Summer Olympics
o 3.4 2010 World Cup
* 4 Outside football
o 4.1 Personal life
o 4.2 Charity
o 4.3 Media
* 5 Career statistics
o 5.1 International
o 5.2 International goals
+ 5.2.1 Under–20
+ 5.2.2 Under–23
+ 5.2.3 Senior team
* 6 Awards and honours
o 6.1 Club
o 6.2 Argentina
o 6.3 Individual
* 7 Notes
* 8 References
* 9 External linksMessi was born on 24 June 1987 at the Hospital Italiano Garibaldi in Rosario, Santa Fe, to parents Jorge Horacio Messi (born 1958), a factory worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. His paternal family originates from the Italian city of Ancona, from which his ancestor, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883 has two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matías as well as a sister named María Sol At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge.In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiencyPrimera División club River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for treatment for his condition as it cost $900 a month.Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC 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 playoffering 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 He has two cousins also involved in football; Maxi and Emanuel Biancucchi
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