Argentine football player Lionel Messi: biography, personal life, career

The Argentinean Lionel Messi is the striker of the Spanish club Barcelona, ​​playing at number 10, and the main striker of the Argentine national team. What was the path to the glory of the famous football player? Biography of Lionel Messi will be described in the article.

General information and statistics

Without exaggeration, we can say that Messi is one of the best football players of our time, but his path to fame was not the easiest.

Biography of Lionel Messi. Origin and childhood

Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in the small town of Rosario (Argentina). It’s easy to calculate how old Lionel Messi is. He is now 30. His father, Jorge Horacio, was a worker at a metallurgical plant, his mother, Celia Maria, worked as a cleaner. Messi has 2 older brothers and a younger sister.

The ancestors of the already legendary football player came from Italy (the city of Ancona), and emigrated to Argentina in 1883.

The father instilled a love of football for the young man, who in his free time led the football team. But the boy’s grandmother insisted on professional studies, Celia, who managed to discern a special talent in the child and agreed that he should start visiting the Grandoli amateur club from the age of 5 (where Jorge Messi worked).

It was the grandmother who was engaged in the upbringing of Lionel, who, not forgetting the debt he owes, still devotes all his goals to her. The footballer even has a tattoo with her image on her back.

The biography of Lionel Messi contains information that he studied very well at school, but, nevertheless, he was more involved in football. At the age of 8, he moved to the Newells Old Boys club, where many famous Argentinean football players started their careers. In this club, playing in the youth squad, he received the Peruvian Friendship Cup (1997). Young Messi had high hopes, they became interested in famous clubs, for example, River Plate (he even played for two clubs at the same time), but at the age of 11 he was diagnosed with a diagnosis that could put an end to his whole sports career - growth hormone deficiency (Lionel Messi stopped growing, and looked more fragile and miniature compared to peers). River Plate refused the transfer, and the family began to spend about $ 1,000 a month on Lionel’s treatment. An annual treatment would cost 11 thousand, neither the parents nor the representatives of the club had that kind of money.

At this crucial moment in the biography of Lionel Messi, professional scouts of the Spanish club Barcelona appeared in Argentina, in particular Horacio Gagioli. He became interested in Lionel and invited his father to send the young man to Spain.

At the age of 13, the young man appeared in front of Carles Reshak. The sports director of the Catalans was so impressed with Lionel’s game that he invited him to the team, and offered his parents full payment for the treatment.

It is interesting that Carles Reshack, after he saw Lionel’s game, began to write the first contract directly on a napkin, since there was simply no paper at hand. We can say that this man saved the career of a football player, since the growth of Lionel Messi without treatment would have remained at 140 cm (now his height is 169 cm).

Career

Lionel Messi's football career developed rapidly. For several years of games in professional tournaments, he became one of the most productive players in Barcelona.

Youth squad of Barcelona

2000 was the first successful year in the career of a football player. It is easy to calculate how many years Lionel Messi has been on his career ladder. By that time, he moved to Spain and began training at the football academy. In his first match, he managed to make the so-called poker - he scored 4 goals against the opponent’s goal. In subsequent matches of FC Barcelona, ​​he managed to score about 37 goals against the opponent.

At this time, the young men became seriously interested in the English Juventus, whose head coach Fabio Capello even offered to rent a football player, but Lionel chose to play in blue-garnet form (FC Barcelona form).

The debut of the football player took place in 2003. After the game of the young striker, the journalists immediately compared with Ronaldinho (by the type of passes), and with Maradona (for the strength of the legs), and Cruyff (for the speed).

In 2005, Lionel Messi, whose photo is posted in the article, scored his first goal against the opponent in the main national championship. He became the youngest player in FC history to be able to do this. It was at this time that the famous Argentine soccer player Diego Maradonna announced that he now knows who will inherit his place.

Lionel Messi's record in 2007 managed to surpass striker Boyan Krkic.

In 2005, Messi made his debut in the Champions League, scored his first goal in this championship, and also received Spanish citizenship and was awarded the title “Golden Boy” - the best player under the age of 21 years.

Season 2006-2007

For several years, Lionel Messi (photo in the article) continued to show excellent results, scoring goals in almost every match. He became the owner of various titles: the best player, the best striker, the author of the best goal. But in the 2006-2007 season, Lionel surpassed himself by scoring several hat-tricks, and became known to the world community as the best striker in the world. FIFA nominated him at once in several categories: he was awarded 3 places in the Golden Ball nomination and 2 places in the Diamond Ball category, beating several competitors, including Cristiano Ronaldo.

Season 2007-2008

In 2008, after the Champions League final, Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand announced that it was simply impossible to take the ball away from Messi. He said that on the field this footballer is a genius, he is not just playing, he is creating. Although in general the 2007-2008 season could not be called successful, as the footballer missed many matches due to injuries.

Season 2008-2009

This season was a turning point for the Messiah. Firstly, at the beginning of the season he changed his “19” number to “10”, under which Ronaldinho played. Secondly, at the end of the season he received a prize as the best European player.

Season 2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 season, Messi scored his 100th goal, playing against Sevilla. This is the best football result a 22-year-old has ever shown. In the same season, after ¼ Champions League, Lionel was recognized as the top scorer, having issued poker. This was followed by a nomination for the best player in the world and receiving the Golden Ball.

Season 2010-2011

It is believed that in 2010 there was a breakthrough in the career of a football player, and the 2011-2012 season was the most successful for him. Over the year in different matches, he managed to score more than 50 goals.

In 2011, Barcelona won the European Cup. Although after losing to Sevilla it seemed unrealistic, since it was necessary to score 2-3 goals per match, but Messi, who made out hat-tricks, dealt with this. Then there was a victory in the Champions League. Messi became the best Champions League player (as well as the best scorer in the history of Barca) and again received the Golden Ball, as the best player in the world.

In January 2011, having received the Golden Ball, Messi became the 5th athlete who managed to do this 2 times in a row.

Season 2011-2012

In the new season, Barca wins the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid (there were 2 matches, one ended in a draw, the other 3-2, the third goal was scored by Messi and he became 200 in his career). In the same year, ESF members recognize Messi as the best European player, and Barca wins the UEFA Super Cup.

In the same season, Messi draws a hat-trick twice in the matches of the national championship:

• in the match Barca - Osasuna;
• in the match against Atlético.

Messi in 2012 broke the record of German striker Gerd Muller 's performance , which lasted about 40 years.

In December 2011, Lionel Messi was recognized as the best athlete in the world (nomination of the Ekip magazine). When voting, he scored 807 points, beating tennis player Djokovic and racer Vettel. He also received another Golden Ball.

Season 2012-2013

In 2012, Lionel repeatedly scored two or three goals per match:

• Hitt Trick (Barca v Granada);
• double (Barca - Rayo Vallecano);
• Hitt Trick (game against Switzerland).

According to the results of the national championship, Lionel Messi, whose best goals all his fans remember, became the top scorer, beating the leader of Real Madrid Ronaldo.

In October 2012, Lionel scored 300 goals in his career. In January 2013, he lost the Golden Ball to Ronaldo, interrupting the winning streak, and in February 2013 he extended his contract with Barca until 2018. Under this contract, the forward received 20 million euros per year (including taxes).

Season 2013-2014

In January 2014, Messi again lost to the “Golden Ball” to Ronaldo, but having scored his 371 goals against the opponent’s goal, he became the best scorer in the history of the existence of Barca in all cups.

Season 2014-2015

In general, the season was a passing one for Messi because of a knee joint injury, although after recovering he continued to go on the field and draw doubles and hat-tricks, scoring 450 goals in his career at Barca.

Season 2015-2016

In terms of statistics, this season was successful:

• Messi became the author (in total) of 7 hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League;
• scored 100 goals in the club championship at the international level (92 goals in the Champions League + 3 goals in CE + 5 goals in the Club World Cup);
• “Put” his goal 500 for “Barca”;
• became the top scorer of El Clasico - the confrontation with Real Madrid (16 goals).

Season 2016-2017

The season began for the Argentinean very successfully. He finally managed to score the Italian Gigi Buffon. And twice. Prior to that, he failed to break the defense of the goalkeeper of Juventus. In addition, Lionel brought the number of goals in the Champions League to 96.

Argentina National Team Game

The performance of Messi as a player of the Argentina national team was lower than his performance of striker FC Barcelona. He could not win any significant titles in the national team.

Lionel was invited to play for the national team of Spain, but he refused, choosing his native Argentina.

Lionel began playing for the national team in 2005 (youth squad) and immediately brought victory. In the very first match of the national team at the 2006 World Cup against the Hungarian team, the football player earned a red card. The further situation developed as follows:

• 2007 - second place in the America's Cup; defeat from Brazil
• 2008 - Olympic Games in China (Beijing) - Argentina national team - Olympic champions;
• 2010 - World Cup - the national team loses in the quarterfinals to the Germans with a score of 0: 4.

In general, at the 2010 World Cup, Messi could not be fully realized, despite the fact that he first entered the field as the team captain (the youngest in history). Against Nigeria and Greece, he did not show outstanding results, did not realize the passes and did not score the necessary points, although he was recognized as the best player on the field.

• 2011 - America's Cup - the national team loses in the ¼ finals of Uruguay;
• 2014 - World Championship - the national team loses in the final to the Germans with a score of 0: 1 (although Messi, having spent 7 matches and scoring 4 goals, was recognized as the best player in the World Cup);
• 2015 - America's Cup - the national team loses in the Chile final in the penalty shootout (1: 4), and Messi could not score from the 11-meter mark;
• 2016 - America's Cup - Argentina's national team loses again in the final of the Chilean national team.

This year, Lionel spoke about the completion of his appearances for the national team, arguing that it was precisely because he could not achieve significant results. But in 2017, he still returned, having played several successful matches for the 2018 World Cup, even speaking in a match against the Russian national team in Luzhniki.

Lionel Messi's best goals

The most beautiful football professionals consider the following goals:

• free-kick goal in the match Argentina-Colombia in 2016;
• goal from the penalty line in the match “Villarreal” - “Barcelona” in January 2017;
• Messi's 500 goal for Barca in the match El Clasico (against Real Madrid) in April 2017.

Messi sometimes “stumbles” on the goalkeepers. So for a long time he could not break through the defense of Peter Cech - the goalkeeper of Chelsea.

Confrontation with Cristiano Ronaldo

Throughout his football career, Lionel Messi constantly competed with the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo. The question of which of the two players is better was not asked only by the lazy. Sports newsmakers consider the starting point of the confrontation between the two players in 2010. For a long time, he was the leader in the unofficial championship of Messi, but in the season 2015-2016, 2016-2017, Ronaldo managed to beat his counterpart and take the main football award - “Golden Ball”, thus equalizing the score (4: 4).

They continue to talk about Messi as the “golden boy” of football, although at this time he is already at the peak of his form. In Spain and Argentina, he was almost a national hero. They make documentaries about him and write articles and books.

Personal life

Messi's personal life is characterized by enviable constancy. He can not be called a womanizer. It is known that in 2006-2007 he met with compatriots Makarena Lemos and Luciana Salazar, with Polish Anna Verber and Argentine Claudia Chiardone (it is interesting that all the girls were bright blondes). Macarena's parents themselves were supporters of a breakdown in relations with the young striker, believing that the girl needed a more respectable companion. Luciana Salazar also severed the relationship.

A family

In 2009, football player Lionel Messi began dating childhood friend Antonella Rokuzzo, a fragile and petite brunette. He was familiar with her older brothers. For a long time the couple did not advertise their romance, but in 2012 the civil wife of Lionel Messi gave him the firstborn - the son of Tiago, and in 2015 - the second child, also a son, who was named Mateo.

In 2017, young people officially formalized the relationship. The wedding took place in the hometown of the newlyweds. In October 2017, it was officially announced that the couple was expecting a third child.

In general, little is known about the personal life and family of Lionel Messi. And all that is known is immediately overgrown with rumors and speculation. Many are interested in where Lionel Messi lives. In order to completely hide from annoying fans and journalists, the football player bought several plots of land from his house in the city of Castelldefels in the province of Barcelona. He bought this house 3 years ago and carried out its complete reconstruction. Interestingly, another Barca player and Lionel's friend Luis Suarez live nearby.

Hobbies

Lionel is known to be a big fan of tattoos. He has several of them (except for the already mentioned portrait of his grandmother on his back):

• a tattoo with the name of the first son;
• tattoo with the number "10";
• image of a dagger;
• the image of Jesus in the crown;
• image of a church stained glass window;
• tattoo on the finger with the date of the wedding (steam room; the wife has exactly the same tattoo).

Tax scandal

In 2011, a scandal erupted in Spain over tax evasion by Lionel Messi and his father, Jorge Messi, who managed his son’s finances. The prosecutor's office brought charges on which both the footballer and his father should have been convicted of financial fraud. The trial continued until 2016. During this time, Jorge Messi, creating an offshore company in Uruguay, continued to evade taxes, hiding his family's income. Lionel was dropped charges after he took part in several charity matches. In 2016, the court issued a verdict according to which:

• the forward and his father were fined a total of 3.5 million euros;
• the father was sentenced to 21 months in prison (he was serving a suspended sentence).

Some fans of the football player, as well as near-football experts, believe that only Jorge Messi, who took all the responsibility for the finances of his son, is to blame for the incident. Others that the father simply took upon himself the main blow of the Spanish Themis in order not to break his son’s brilliant career.

Charity

Leo (as fans call him) was actively involved in charity work. Lionel Messi helps mainly children who find themselves in a difficult situation (most likely, remembering how he himself was helped by the head coach of Barca). In 2007, he founded a charity fund that oversees children's education and medicine in Argentina. In 2010, the fund began to operate in South America. All possible assistance to the football player in his work is provided by UNICEF. Lionel is a goodwill ambassador for this organization.

Provides Messi and targeted assistance. In 2012-2013 he paid for several surgeries for sick children, and also completely restored the children's hospital in Rosario.

And the last question that interests many - how much does Lionel Messi earn? In July 2017, in anticipation of the end of the contract with Barca, Lionel agreed on his new contract with his native club, which will end only in 2022. For the season under this contract, Lionel will receive up to 100 million euros, and the amount of "compensation" is 700 million.