Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittinigives an ultimate chill down the spine to even think about a player like him. And just like Sergio Ramos said, “Messi is light years ahead of Diego Maradona”.
And what makes Lionel Messi the greatest player of all time?
Ace footballer Lionel Messi is one of the greatest players in modern football. His tenacity, as well as the unique ability to overcome any defensive redoubts of rivals, will forever remain in the memory of die-fans of the game of millions.
Initial Days:
However, despite such a large family, Lionel’s grandmother was responsible for the education of a raw and young talent. When Messi was five-year-old, she insisted on his joining “Grandoli” club and convinced the whole family that the boy will become a real football player.
She said the child has great skills that other children do not have. In future, Messi did not forget the support of his beloved grandmother Celia, devoting all scored goals to her.
At school, Lionel was a diligent pupil. But most of the time he devoted his time to sport.
At the age of eight, the young football player was already playing for the local professional club Newells Old Boys. Which gave many famous football stars to the world.
As a member of the youth team, Messi received his first sports award – the Friendship Cup of Peru. The boy was very promising player and Argentinean club “River Plate” was very interested in him as a footballer, but the guy did not join this team.
Disease:
At the age of 11, Lionel was diagnosed an extremely unpleasant disease – growth hormone deficiency. The disease affected the growth of the guy. He had height issues compared to other children.
Simultaneously, the treatment was expensive, the family spent about 900 dollars per month on hormone injections. That is why “River Plate” refused to purchase a promising footballer.
But this fact did not stop the world famous football club “Barcelona”, and they persuaded Messi’s father to send the boy to Spain for casting.
Thus, the 13-year-old footballer went to Barcelona with a glimmer of a hope. Charly Rexach, the Catalan club sporting director, was delighted with Lionel’s first training and not only agreed to take him under the wing of the football team, but also fully paid for the boy’s treatment.
Football Career:
In 2000, Messi moved to Spain and started playing in the youth team of the Catalan “Barcelona”.
In his first match, Messi scored four goals, and during the next thirty games he managed to score 37 goals.
Impressing not only the owners of the Spanish team, but also the coach of the Italian club “Juventus”. The management of the “Old Lady” (nickname FC “Juventus”) even offered to “lend” the guy for one season, but the young athlete put on a T-shirt of FC Barcelona.
Messi continued to play for Barcelona and three years later made his debut in professional football in a friendly match against the Portuguese club Porto.
Moreover, Journalists noticed Messi and predicted him a great sporting future. In 2004, the Argentinean played his first official match for FC Barcelona. The Catalans played against their compatriots from Espanyol, but the forward failed to score goals.
A year later, Messi scored his first goal at the gates of Albacete, and became the youngest player in the history of the Catalan club, who managed to hit the opponent’s gate in the main Spanish championship. At that time, the football player was almost 18-years-old. Later this record was broken by striker Bojan Krkic in 2007.
Messi’s career in Barcelona got better with every game. Almost every year the footballer received personal awards, becoming the best player, the author of the best goal and the owner of other prestigious titles.
The period from 2010 to 2012 is considered as the best in Lionel Messi’s career, as he becomes the world’s second player who received four Golden Balls.
The achievements of Messi are truly impressive, and the directors even thought about making a new film about the player.
In 2014 movies about the famous footballer were shot in Spain. Also the film “Messi” was announced, where his best goals were presented, as well as a story of his success.
In 2014, “Barcelona” signed a new contract with the famous forward, according to which he will earn 20 million euros a year after taxes, the cooperation will last until 2018.
In the team, Lionel Andrés Messi did not show impressive results. The footballer didn’t win any title.
Journey with Argentina:
Initially, Messi received an invitation from the Spanish team. But he refused it and since 2005 played for the national team of Argentina.
It should be noted that his debut match in the national team came against the national team of Hungary and didn’t go well. He then got a red card.
As part of the Argentine team, Messi played at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in China. He won the tournament, becoming the Olympic champion.
In 2016, in the final of America’s Cup, which was held in the United States. The team lost in a penalty shootout with Chile – 2: 4, and Messi failed to hit the ball from the penalty spot. After the match, he said that he finished his career representing the national team.
Footballer explained to the media that playing for “white and blue” (the nickname of the national team of Argentina) are extremely unsuccessful for him and he cannot win any significant tournament with his team.
Millions of dreams had shattered when Argentina lost to Iceland by 2- 0. But somebody has rightly quoted “Expect the Unexpected” and maybe that was the only thing missing this season.
But nevertheless, it was a wonderful comeback to see Messi scoring against Nigeria in the FIFA World Cup 2018. And win the match by 2- 1 to enter the list of top 16 teams.
And by the end of the day, all we can do is hope, and yet millions of us can just hope and pray that Argentina wins.