| p>His full name is Lionel Andrés Messi. Messi | | | | professional team FC Barcelona. |
| who was born 24 June 1987 is an Argentine soccer | | | | Messi was almost immediately being compared to an |
| player and now participates for La Liga's Barcelona | | | | earlier hero of Argentine soccer, Diego Maradona. He |
| and the Argentine national team. Messi is regarded as | | | | was a member of Argentina's 2006 World Cup team. |
| one of the best and famous soccer players of his | | | | He assisted Barcelona win an uncommon triple in 2009: |
| generation, by the age of 21, has received several | | | | the Copa del Rey, Spain's La Liga championship, and |
| Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year | | | | also the Champions League. |
| nominations. | | | | Lionel Messi has been given countless praised from |
| Messi started playing soccer at very early age and his | | | | Argentinean coach Diego Maradona in spite of their |
| latent was rapidly acclaimed by Barcelona. Making his | | | | defeat to Spain. Maradona stated that he was |
| first appearance in the 2004-2005 season, he broke | | | | pleased with the Barcelona striker performance on the |
| the La Liga record for the youngest soccer player to | | | | field. |
| take part in a league game, and the youngest to make | | | | On the occasion, Maradona asserted, "The match |
| a league goal as well. | | | | wasn't brilliant but the team responded well against the |
| In 2005 he became the latest teen superstar of | | | | champions of Europe. It works for me because the |
| Argentine soccer. Lionel Messi was chosen as the | | | | team reacted very well. "Messi played marvelously |
| player of the tournament at under-20 World Cup on | | | | well, and little by little he is becoming the leader of the |
| the year; played his first game for the Argentine | | | | team. It is what I want and it is what I hope for. |
| national team; and made his first goal with the | | | | |