Full Name: Lionel Messi

Birthplace: Santa Fe (Argentina)
Birthday: June 24th, 1987

Height: 169cm
Weight: 67 Kg

Nickname: MESSI

Biography

Lionel Messi´s footballing career started as a youth policy players at Newell's Old Boys in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1995, where he played until the year 2000. At the age of 13, Lionel Messi crossed the Atlantic to try his luck at Barcelona, joining Blaugrana's Under 14s. Messi made spectacular progress at each of the different age levels, climbing through the ranks of the various youth teams and then Barça C, followed by Barça B, progressing to the first team in record time.


In the 2003-2004 season, when he was still only 16, Messi made his first team debut for FC Barcelona in a friendly match with FC Porto that marked the opening of the new Dragao Stadium. The following championship-winning season, Messi made his first appearance in an official match on October 16, 2004. He played in Barcelona's derby win against Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium (0-1).


With several first team players seriously injured the services of several reserves were called upon and Messi became a regular member of the Barça squad. On May 1st, 2005, he became the youngest player ever to score a league goal for FC Barcelona. Leo Messi scored against Albacete when he was only 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old.


In June 2005 at the FIFA Youth World Championship in the Netherlands, Lionel Messi´s star rose and started to shine. He won the world championship title with Argentina, became the leading goalscorer and was voted best player of the FIFA tournament. Just 18 years old, he had become one of the hottest properties on the world´s soccer stage and many football experts see in him the “new Maradonna”. Shortly after, he made his first full international appearance in a friendly against Hungary.


In the middle of the 2005-06 season, Messi changed his number 30 shirt for the number 19, as a result of modifications to his league registration. This change only affected La Liga and the Spanish Cup. In the Champions League he retains the number 30 on his shirt.


In September 2005, Messi was given an improved and extended contract until 2014. At the beginning of February 2006 he was contracted exclusively by Adidas to become the new marketing icon for the sports equipment producer.


Messi came from the Barça youth ranks. Leo Messi has contract with FC Barcelona until 30th June 2014.

Profile & Position

Messi is an outstanding, exceptional player. He is highly creative and has the skills to take on defenders with ease. He is a versatile left-footed player who can play on all attacking positions. He can play as a central offensive midfielder as well as winger on both sides, left or right or in the center or even as a centre forward. Lionel Messi is cool-headed and has a good assumption of the situation and has this ability to be at the right time at the right spot. Although he is not tall, he is so fast and physically strong, that he can also challange larger opponents. He is incredibly powerful and a specialist in such dead ball situations as corners, free kicks and penalties.