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LEO MESSI BORN
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi was born 24 June 1987 in Rosario to parents Jorge Horacio Messi, a factory steel worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner -
LIONEL MESSI FIVE YEARS
At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge -
LIONEL MESSI NEWELL´S OLD BOYS
In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario. -
LIONEL MESSI A HEALTH PROBLEM
At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.The traditional River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for treatment for his condition which 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. Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered Messi a contract written on. -
LIONEL MESSI LEAGUE DEBUT
A year later, Frank Rijkaard let him make his league debut against RCD Espanyol on 16 October 2004 (at 17 years and 114 days), becoming the third-youngest player ever to play for Barcelona and youngest club player who played in La Liga. -
LIONEL MESSI BALLON GOLD
Messi was named winner of the 2009 Ballon d'Or on 1 December 2009, beating runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo by largest ever margin of 473 to 233. Afterwards, France Football magazine quoted Messi as saying: "I dedicate it to my family. They were always present when I needed them and sometimes felt even stronger emotions than me." -
LIONEL MESSI UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
On 8 March, Messi scored two goals against Arsenal in a UEFA Champions League match at the Camp Nou, helping Barcelona win 3–1 and qualify to the quarter-finals of the competition. After failing to score for a month he scored a brace against Almería; the second goal was his 47th of the season, equalling his club record return of the previous season.
