STORY

LIONEL MESSI IS AN ARGENTINIAN FOOTBALLER WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST PLAYERS OF THE MODERN GENERATION. HE PLAYS FOR FC BERCELONA AND THE ARGENTINA NATIONAL TEAM. HE HAS OWN FIFA WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR SIX TIMES (2009-12,2015AND 2022). HE HAS OFTEN BEEN DESCRIBED AS DIEGO MARADONAS SUCCESSOR BECAUSE OF HIS PROLIFIC GOAL SCORING RECORD AND ABILITY TO DRIBBLE PAST OPPONENTS. "I HAVE SEEN THE PLAYER WHO WILL INHERIT MY PLACE IN ARGENTINE FOOTBALL AND HIS NAME ID MESSI. MESSI IS A GENIUS,AND HE CAN BECOME AN EVEN BETTER PLAYER." HIS POTENTIAL IS LIMITLESS,AND I THINK HE IS GOT EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO BECOME ARGENTINAS GREATEST PLAYER. -DIEGO MARADONA LIONEL MESSI WAS BORN, 24 JUNE 1987, IN ROSARIO ARGENTINA TO A WORKING-CLASS FAMILY. HIS FATHER WAS A FACTORY STEEL WORKER, AND HIS MOTHER A CLEANER. HE BEGAN PLAYING FROM AN EARLY AGE, AND HIS TALENT WAS SOON APPARENT. HOWEVER, AT THE AGE OF 11, MESSI WAS DIAGNOSED WITH GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY(GHD). THIS WAS A CONDITION THAT STUNTED GROWTH AND REQUIRED EXPENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT, INCLUDING THE USE OF THE DRUG HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. HIS LOCAL CLUB, RIVER PLATE WERE INTERESTED IN SIGNING MESSI BUT DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR HIS MEDICAL TREAMENT . HOWEVER, MESSI WAS GIVEN A TRIAL WITH BARCELONA, AND COACH CARLES REXACH WAS IMPRESSED - OFFERING MESSI A CONTRACT (WRITTEN ON A PAPER NAPKIN) WHICH INCLUDED PAYING FOR MESSIS TREATMENT IN SPAIN. MESSI MOVED TO BARCELONA WITH HIS FATHER AND BECAME PART OF THE PRESTIGIOUS FC BARCELONA YOUTH ACADEMY. '' I MADE A LOT OF SACRIFICES BY LEAVING ARGENTINA, LEAVING MY FAMILY TO START A NEW LIFE. BUT EVERYTHING I DID, I DID FOR FOOTBALL, TO ACHIVE MY DREAM. THATS WHY I DID NOT GO OUT PARTYING, OR DO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS." - LIONEL MESSI