Lionel Messi biography
To start out my blog I would like to post this biography, that I wrote. It is about the life of Lionel Messi the best football player in the world. I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to post your opinions.
The Life of Lionel Messi
Leo Messi biography - By ~ Jacob Ryan Mullins
Lionel Andrés Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina on June 24, 1987. He was born to his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, and his mother, Celia María Cuccittini. He has two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías. He also has a sister named María Sol. Growing up they lived in a neighborhood, south of the city Rosario called Barrio Las Heras. Lionel grew up in a working class family. His father worked with steel at a factory, and his mother did some part-time cleaning.
Leo Messi biography - Early life When Messi was three or four he was given his first football as a gift. He loved it so much from then on that’s all he wanted. He began collecting them.
That's all he wanted to do, play. He would play in the unpaved, dirt street with the other boys all the time.
They also played at an abandoned military base they called “Batallón”. They weren’t supposed to be there but inside were football pitches. They would sneak through a gap in the fence to get in.
By the time he was five he was playing for Grandoli, a near-by football club that his father, Jorge coached. He enjoyed playing there with his brothers. In fact the whole family was involved with the club.
Lionel was always smaller than the other boys playing, but once the game started he proved a formidable opponent. His ability to control the ball at his feet was undebated. Young Messi played there until he was eight-years-old then he began playing for Newell’s Old Boys, a team in his home city Rosario.
Leo Messi biography - Career beginnings By the age of eleven Lionel Messi’s life was set on a course that would launch him into his professional career. While playing for Newell’s Old Boys he was sent to a doctor because of his unusually small size. After a series of tests he was told he had a dormant growth hormone. The doctor said it was treatable. The treatment would wake up the hormone so he would grow at the same rate as other kids. Unfortunately, the expense of the treatment would be a financial hardship.
After having payed for the first the first year's treatment, FC Barcelona, a football club in Spain’s La Liga, had already been scouting Messi and was aware of his talent at football. Barcelona offered to pay his medical bills if he would move to Spain and enroll in their youth academy. With no other paper available Messi’s contract was written on a paper napkin.
In September 2000, thirteen year-old Lionel went to Barcelona Spain where he had a fifteen day trial period. After wards, he returned to Argentina until February of the next year. At the age of thirteen Messi was enrolled in their youth academy. There he began playing at Nou Camp football stadium.
Lionel Messi has said about his experience: “It was a fantastic thing and what I wanted to do. But it was strange too. …there was nothing here that I was used to from my life back at home…”
Lionel Andrés Messi played for three different teams during his first three years. From the year 2000 to 2003 he played for Barcelona’s junior Infantil B team, and Cadete A and B teams. As he moved through the string of teams, each one more prestiges then the previous one, Lionel put more experience and skill under his belt. Having scored 37 goals in 30 matches during his time with the Cadete A team he proved a talent to watch.
In 2004, this 17 year-old prodigy skimmed through five junior Barcelona teams, breaking a record. Each teamed in which he played brought him closer to Barcelona’s main La Liga team.
Leo Messi biography - Early Career That year Coach Frank Rijkaard let 17 year-old Messi debut into Barcelona’s main team. Lionel Messi broke a record for being the youngest club player to play in the Spanish La Liga.
In 2005, Messi competed in the FIFA U-20 World Cup and was awarded two titles, FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Tournament, and FIFA U-20 World Cup Top Goal Scorer. He also was also awarded the title Tuttosport Golden Boy in 2005.
Leo Messi biography - Career Peak On September 16, 2005 Messi’s contract was extended until June 2014. Then, 10 days later, on September 26 2005, Messi became a Spanish citizen. He finally made his debut in the Spanish first division, and this incredible little man quickly caught the eye of the fans.
In 2006 Messi suffered a broken metatarsal and was out of the season for three months. Shortly after returning on the 11’th of February Messi played in an El Clásico match where he scored a hat trick. The final fixture was a 3-3 tie. Messi amazed the fans with his ball control and great passes. Some gave him titles such as the “New Maradona.”
That year Messi was awarded the World Soccer Young Player of the Year, and FIFPro World Young Player of the Year. His skill continued to improve and his popularity did also.
In 2009 Lionel competed in the FIFA Club World Cup scoring the winning goal in the final. He added more individual awards to his repertoire in 2009 such as the FIFA Ballon d’Or, beating out Cristiano Ronaldo 473 votes to 233. He also won the World Player of the Year award. On January 17, 2010 he reached a milestone when he scored the 100’th goal of his professional career.
Lionel Messi was called to defend his country, Argentina, in the FIFA World Cup South Africa. During the tournament he played 5 matches for a total of 450 minutes. Argentina was eliminated from the Competition without Lionel Messi having scored a single goal.
Lionel Messi was awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2010 as well as 2011. 2011 was a big year for Lionel Messi. FC Barcelona qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup, and made it to the final against Santos FC. Messi won the cup for them scoring two goals. For his performance he was awarded the Golden Ball award. Today, Lionel Andrés Messi lives in Barcelona Spain and continues his professional football career playing for FC Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga.
By ~ Jacob Ryan Mullins
