We all know this person so very well. Today’s ‘birthday man’ is one of the greatest celebrities in the football world. We commonly know him as GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)! Yes, you must have guessed it right! Feliz Cumpleaños (Happy Birthday) to our one of the most favourite football players— Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini!!
Lionel Messi made his debut in FC Barcelona first team in 2004-2005 La Liga at just seventeen. He was the youngest player to represent FCB ever. Since then he is breaking goal records and raising the bar for the future players. He plays as a forward and is currently the captain of both FC Barcelona and Argentina National Team.
Messi was born on 24 June, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. Having received his first ball when he was four he started playing with his elder brothers. However, just as obvious as his outstanding ability it became more apparent that he was smaller than his friends. The doctors discovered that he had a restrictive growth hormone deficiency. The expensive injections made his family left with huge costs to pay for his continued treatment. In 2000 when he was thirteen Barcelona came to his rescue and changed his life forever. Messi was invited to Spain for a fifteen-day trial. The club agreed to sign him and pay for his medical bills in a contract that was written out on a paper napkin.
Messi always has number 10 on his jerseys in both teams. He is often seen with a smile on his face and humble about his record-breaking achievements. He has enviable commitment to the game. He is the perfect example of how smaller players can use their size to their advantage. He keeps inspiring many football players around the world. His left foot is a deadly weapon when it comes to shooting goals. His razor-sharp brain with a combination of natural talent and instinct make him the attacking machine. Messi is also deceptively quick. He accelerates from the moment he picks up the ball and speeds past defenders before they are even ready to tackle him.
Messi is married to his childhood sweetheart, Antonela Rocuzzo since 2017. They have a family of three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro. His favourite dog, Senor Hulk, is one of the largest French Mastiff breeds, Dogue de Bordeaux.
He has record in winning awards almost each year:
• La Liga titles- 10
• Ballon d’Or awards- 6
• Best FIFA Men’s Player- 6
• Best UEFA Player in Europe- 2
• Golden Boot awards- 5
• Champions League Winner- 4
• Player of the Year- 10
• Spanish Champion- 10
• Spanish Cup Winner- 6
• Spanish Super Cup Winner- 8
• FIFA Club World Cup Winner- 3
• Under- 20 World Cup Champion- 1
• UEFA Super Cup Winner- 3
• Copa America Runner Up- 3
• Player of the Tournament- 2
• Silver Boot- 1
• Top Scorer- 19
• Guinness World Records Title for the most official goals in 2012
And the list goes on and on. Thus, these all made him a legend in football.
Although Leo holds the all-time scoring records both in La Liga and Champions League he still has plenty of play left for the rest of his career. How many more goals can he score? How many more records will he make? We have to wait patiently for that. Players have some best days as they have some worst. One of the worst days in his life was not to win the FIFA World Cup in 2014. His face had shown how much disappointed he was about being the runner-up. He faced severe criticisms that the dedication he shows for his club is not found for his national team. We, his loyal supporters who watched him grow, would not disown him on that ground. It is quite possible that he tries really hard to win every game for his country but his luck does not favour him at times.
Even if Messi does not break any more record or fail to score spectacular goals every time he has already done enough for the millions of football fans. The day will come when he will announce his retirement from football. We need not be upset. We can wish him by saying— Thanks, Leo, for all the memories!
Messi’s story proves that size does not matter. Nor can poverty come in the way of talent. Anything is possible if one is good enough to work hard with talent. Success, they say, comes out of one percent inspiration and ninety nine per cent perspiration.
Eduindex News 