LIONEL MESSI BIOGRAPHY

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian footballer widely regarded as the one of

the greatest players of the modern generation. He plays for FC
Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He has won FIFA world
player of the year four times (a record already). He has often been
described as Diego Maradonas successor because of his prolific goal
scoring record and ability to dribble past opponents.
Lionel Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, to parents Jorge
Horacio Messi, a factory worker, and Celia Mara Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. He has
two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matas as well as a sister named Maria Sol. At
the age of five, Messi started playing football. 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. Primera Divisin club River Plate showed interest in Messi's
progress, but did not have enough money to pay for the treatment, as it cost $900 a
month. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of 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 play, offering 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.
Lionel Messi has no limits, he marked a new milestone in football. The Argentine won
his fourth Golden Ball consecutively (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012), and became the
only player in history to have achieved this feat.
Barcelona

Spanish La Liga title (*6): 200405, 200506, 200809, 200910, 201011,

201213
Spanish cup (*2)- Copa del Rey: 200809, 201112; Runner-up 201011
Supercopa de Espaa (*6): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013; Runner-up
2012
UEFA Champions League (*3): 200506, 200809, 201011
UEFA Super Cup (*2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011
Argentina

Messi has frequently been the target of other football clubs with big transfer budgets,
but he has remained loyal to Barcelona FC. He is one of the highest paid footballers in
the world. His base salary is estimated at 16 million net a year, until 2018. His net
wealth is estimated at 110m.
Private life, Messi has a relatively private and modest lifestyle. He
makes efforts to keep links to his hometown of Rosario. He has an
Argentinian girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo, and they have one child
Thiago, born in November 2012.
Messi acts as an ambassador for Unicef, and also runs his own
charitable foundation supporting access to education and sport for
children. Because of his own expensive medical treatment, he has also
helped Argentinian hospitals with paying for similar treatment to his
own.

Lionel Messi es un futbolista argentino ampliamente considerado como el uno de los

jugadores ms grandes de la generacin moderna. l juega para el FC Barcelona y la
seleccin de Argentina. Ha ganado Jugador Mundial de la FIFA en cuatro ocasiones
(un rcord ya). A menudo ha sido descrita como el sucesor de Diego Maradona por su
rcord de puntuacin objetivo prolfico y habilidad para driblar oponentes anteriores.
Lionel Messi naci el 24 de junio de 1987 en Rosario, Argentina, de padres Jorge
Horacio Messi, un trabajador de la fbrica, y Celia Mara Cuccittini, un limpiador de
medio tiempo. l tiene dos hermanos mayores llamados Rodrigo y Matas, as como a
una hermana llamada Mara Sol. A la edad de cinco aos, Messi comenz a jugar al
ftbol. Sin embargo, a la edad de 11, Messi fue diagnosticada con deficiencia de
hormona de crecimiento (GHD). Esta fue una condicin que atrofiado crecimiento, y
requiere tratamiento mdico caro, incluyendo el uso de la hormona humana del
crecimiento de drogas. Primera Divisin del club River Plate mostr inters en el
progreso de Messi, pero no tienen suficiente dinero para pagar el tratamiento, ya que
cuesta $ 900 al mes. Carles Rexach, el director deportivo del Barcelona, se haba
hecho consciente de su talento como Messi tena parientes en Lrida, Catalua, y
Messi y su padre fueron capaces de organizar un juicio. De Barcelona lo fich despus
de verlo jugar, ofrecindose a pagar por los gastos mdicos si estaba dispuesto a
trasladarse a Espaa. Su familia se traslad a Europa y que se inici en las categoras
inferiores del club.
Lionel Messi no tiene lmites, marc un nuevo hito en el ftbol. El argentino gan su
cuarto Baln de Oro de forma consecutiva (2009, 2010, 2011 y 2012), y se convirti en
el nico jugador en la historia en haber logrado esta hazaa.
Barcelona

Espaol ttulo de Liga (* 6): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11,

2012-13
Copa espaola (* 2) - Copa del Rey: 2008-09, 2011-12; Subcampen 2010-11
Supercopa de Espaa (* 6): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013; Subcampen
2012
UEFA Champions League (* 3): 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11
Supercopa de la UEFA (* 2): 2009, 2011; Subcampen 2006
Copa Mundial de Clubes (2): 2009, 2011
Argentina

Messi ha sido con frecuencia el blanco de otros clubes de ftbol con presupuestos de
transferencia de grandes, pero se ha mantenido fiel al FC Barcelona. l es uno de los
futbolistas mejor pagados del mundo. Su salario base se estima en 16 millones de al
ao netos, hasta el ao 2018. Su patrimonio neto se estima en 110 millones.
Vida privada
Segn las normas del ftbol moderno, Messi tiene un estilo de vida relativamente
privado y modesto. l hace esfuerzos por mantener vnculos con su ciudad natal de
Rosario. l tiene una novia argentina Antonella Roccuzzo, y tienen un hijo Thiago,
nacido en noviembre de 2012.
Messi acta como embajador de Unicef, y tambin dirige su propia fundacin caritativa
apoyar el acceso a la educacin y el deporte para los nios. A causa de su propio
tratamiento mdico costoso, tambin ha ayudado a los hospitales argentinos con el
pago de un tratamiento similar a la suya.