Lionel Messi today is one of the best strikers in the world. His game and career are watched by millions of fans. The personal life of a short football player interests even people who are far from sports. Especially interesting to many Messi in childhood, his first steps to fame.
A family
Lionel was born on June 24, 1987 in the town of Rosario. The Messi family belongs to the working class. My father worked in a factory, and his mother worked as a cleaner. The attacker has two older brothers and a sister. Cousins also play football professionally. Some of the ancestors of Messi come from Italy, and some from Catalonia.
Messi in childhood
Future star started playing football at the age of 5 years. Trained the little boy's father, who moonlighted as a trainer in “Grandolin” - a small amateur team. Messi's small stature since childhood. Nobody especially believed in the success of the player on the field, except for Celia’s grandmother. She took the unconscious Lionel to classes, believing in his great future. Today he devotes many goals to her.
Messi in his childhood tried not to miss training. He begged his mother to let him go until she agreed. Lionel was a shy and modest child, which he has remained so far. He still does not realize his popularity, calmly walking around his hometown during the holidays. He tries to take a picture with everyone and give an autograph.
What sick Messi in childhood
All fans know that Lionel is short, but not many know that this is due to the disease. So, first things first.
It's hard to find a talented player like Messi. He played as a child with a return, which allowed him to get into the Newells Old Boys, a team that is quite popular in Argentina at the age of 8.
The club's coach in an interesting way made him play with the head of a low Lionel. To do this, he used chocolate chip cookies, which the football player really liked. For each goal scored, he received 1 piece. For a goal scored by the head, the boy was supposed to have two cookies. Messi for the sake of a reward beat all the defense of the enemy, threw the ball and scored his head.
At age 11, Lionel was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. In order for the boy not to remain a dwarf, treatment was required, which cost about 1 thousand dollars a month. Not every club was ready to pay for the treatment of even such a promising football player. Lionel’s father went around more than one football team, but no one wanted to invest in a sick boy.
Barcelona
The scouts of the Catalan club began to take a closer look at Messi. “He plays football well in childhood,” they reasoned, “but treatment is required.” This repelled many clubs, but not Barcelona. In September 2000, a guy with his father came to see Spain. The director had to wait until October. Messi's magnificent game impressed Carles Reshak, who persuaded the management to pay for the family move, as well as the treatment of the boy.
Messi's affairs in Barcelona went pretty well in childhood. Already in the first match for the youth team scored poker at the gate of the opponent. Having vividly declared himself, he managed to secure a place in the starting lineup. He almost always left the field with a goal scored. In the debut season, he accumulated 37 goals. At the age of 16, Lionel was noticed by Capello, who coached Juventus. The management of “Barcelona” received an offer to rent a player, but refused. At the age of 17, he already made his debut for the main team of blue garnet.
The club’s first goal was in May 2005, scoring against Albacente. This goal made Messi the youngest player in the history of the club, who managed to score in the Spanish championship. The first match in the Champions League was held against Shakhtar from Donetsk. By the way, “Barcelona” in that match lost 2-0. The following season, together with the team, he won the Spanish Championship and the Champions League. However, he could not play in the finals due to an injury.
Interesting Facts
- Messi's first ball prompted the leadership to conclude a contract with him until 2014.
- In 2005, he helped the Argentinean youth team win the World Cup. Messi also became the most valuable player in the tournament, having received several prestigious awards.
- The debut in the main team he failed. The player was removed from the field three minutes after the starting whistle.
- In 2007, he scored a goal, running 62 meters and beating 6 opponents. The meeting was held as part of the Spanish Cup against Getafe.
- In 2008, he received the 10th number, which before that belonged to Ronaldinho.
- After a goal scored, Messi looks at the sky, thus devoting a goal to his beloved grandmother.