LIONEL MESSI IS ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED, FAMOUS, AND HIGHEST-PAID SOCCER PLAYER IN THE WORLD.
THE FUTURE FOOTBALL HERO WAS BORN LIONEL ANDRES MESSI CUCCITTINI ON 24 JUNE 1987. HIS MOTHER WORKED IN A MAGNET MANUFACTURING AND HIS FATHER WAS A STEEL FACTORY MANAGER.
HE STARTED PLAYING SOCCER AT A VERY EARLY AGE WITH HIS OLDER SIBLINGS AND COUSINS. AT THE AGE OF 4, HE JOINED THE LOCAL GRANDOLI CLUB
AT THE AGE OF 6, MESSI JOINED HIS FAVORITE CLUB NEWELL'S OLD BOYS WHERE HE PLAYED FOR 6 YEARS AND SCORED 500 GOALS
IN 2000 ,HIS RELATIVES ARRANGED HIM TO SHOW HIS TALENTS TO T HE CITY'S TEAM, FC BARCELONA. BARCA HESITANT TO SIGN HIM BECAUSE HE WAS TOO YOUNG YET THEY SIGNED A CONTRACT IN JANUARY 2001
AFTER GOING THROUGH BARCELONA'S YOUTH ACADEMY, MESSI WAS REGISTERED AS A PROFESSIONAL IN SPANISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN 2002. HE PROVED HIMSELF TO BE A GOLDEN PLAYER FOR BARCA
HE WAS THE TOP SCORER WITH 30 GOALS FOR 30 GAMES IN FIRST SEASON WITH CADETES A
(2002-2003)
MESSI WON 24 NATIONAL TITLES AND 10 INTENATIONAL TITLES FOR FC BARCELONA IN THE YEAR 2006-07
INDIVIDUALLY, MESSI WON THE GOLDEN BALL (BALLON D'OR) FOR SEVEN TIMES
DESPITE HIS SUCCESS AND FORTUNE, HE PLAYED WITH FC BARCELONA FOR NEARLY HIS ENTIRE CARRER
DUE TO SEVERAL CONTRACTUAL ISSUES MESSI WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE CLUB IN 2021. THE TEARS HE SHED WHEN ANNOUNCING THE NEWS WENT AROUND THE WORLD
FROM 2021, HE HAS BEEN PLAYING WITH PARIS SAINT- GERMAIN ALONGSIDE WITH MBAPPE AND NEYMAR
HE MARRIED ANTONELLA, HIS CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART IN 2017. THEY HAVE THREE CHILDREN TOGETHER.
HE MADE HIS DEBUT WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM IN 2006 AT THE WORLD CUP IN GERMANY. HE SCORED 1 GOAL IN THAT WORLD CUP
IN 2008, MESSI WON THE GOLD WITH HIS NATIONAL TEAM AT THE BEIJING OLYMPICS.
IN 2010, WITH THE LEGENDARY MARADONA AS A COACH, THE ARGENTINIAN NATIONAL TEAM WAS, ONCE AGAIN, ELIMINATED IN THE QUARTER-FINAL. ON TOP OF THAT, MESSI FAILED TO MAKE A SINGLE GOAL IN THE TOURNAMENT
HE SCORED 4 GOALS DURING THE 4 GAMES HE PLAYED AND HIS TEAM WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE FINAL. BUT AGAIN, TRAGICALLY, THE TEAM LOST TO GERMANY - JUST AS IT HAD IN SOUTH AFRICA
WITH NUMEROUS PRIZES IN SPAIN, EUROPE, AND SOUTH AMERICA, PLUS SEVERAL BALLONS D'OR, MESSI WAS REALLY PRESSED TO TAKE THAT LAST HURDLE AND BRING THE WORLD CUP HOME TO ARGENTINA
HIS FOURTH WORLD CUP, RUSSIA 2018, MESSI AND HIS TEAM UNCEREMONIOUSLY LEFT THE SCENE IN THE ROUND OF 16, LOSING THE FIRST ELIMINATION MATCH AGAINST FRANCE
IN 2022, MESSI ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS PARTICIPATING IN HIS NATIONAL TEAM'S WORLD CUP BID FOR THE LAST TIME
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IN WHAT MAY BE HIS LAST CHANCE OF WINNING THE COVETED TROPHY, MESSI SAID HE ARRIVED IN QATAR "WITH A LOT OF ATTITUDE AND A LOT OF HOPE."
THE WORLD WATCHES ON TO SEE IF MESSI, ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PLAYERS IN HISTORY, WILL FINALLY CROWN HIS CAREER WITH A WORLD CUP WIN