Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Barcelona and the Argentine national team. Considered as one of the best football players of his generation and frequently cited as the world's best contemporary player,Messi had received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21 and won both by the age of 22.His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to football legend Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi his "successor."
Lionel Messi began playing football at a young age and his potential was quickly identified by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004–05 season, he broke the La Liga record for the youngest footballer to play a league game, and also the youngest to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and Champions League in 2006. His breakthrough season was in 2006–07; he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Perhaps his most successful season was the 2008–09 season, in which Messi scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble-winning campaign.
Messi was the top scorer of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship with six goals, including two in the final game. Shortly thereafter, he became an established member of Argentina's senior international team. In 2006, he became the youngest Argentine to play in the FIFA World Cup and he won a runners-up medal at the Copa América tournament the following year. In 2008, in Beijing, he won his first international honour, an Olympic gold medal, with the Argentina Olympic football team.
Lionel Andrés Messi, born June 24, 1987, the famous Argentine soccer player, is now Barcelona's Argentina forward players and internationals, he is popular known as "the new Maradona." December 22, 2009, Messi led Barcelona with a 08-09 season and made the Spanish King's Cup, European Champions League Triple Crown, beating C.Ronaldo received the 2009 World Player of the Year. June 2010, Lionel Messi for Argentina national football team set off the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Beijing at 3:00 on December 22 (Switzerland local time at 20:00 on the 21st), 2009 FIFA awards ceremony was held at the Zurich Opera House. Now plays for Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi (1073 points) to beat the C Luo points (352 points), Harvey (196 points), Kaka (190 points), Iniesta (134 points), and other four candidates who, following in the previous two years, finished second place in both the selected location, step forward into this year's World Player of the Year. Messi became history's first 11 in the same year swept the Golden Globe awards and the World Player of the two "super sir", and he is also an award-winning Argentine history.
Leo Messi (Lionel Andrés Messi), was born June 24, 1987, Argentina's famous football player, now Barcelona's Argentine striker and the striker, he is popular known as the "new Maradona." December 1, 2009, by virtue of the 2008-09 season Messi led Barcelona to obtain Liga, King's Cup, Champions League Triple Crown, defeating C Luo received the 2009 European Golden Globe.