Messi

Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi Cuccittini was born 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. His Father Jorge Horacio Messi was steal worker while his mother Celia Maria Cuccittini was a part-time cleaner. He also has two older brothers, Rodgrido and Matias, and a sister, Maria Sol. At the age of 5 Leo started playing football Grandoli, which was coached by his father. In 1995 he joined Newell's Old Boys and for the next 4 years his team only lost 1 game. At the age of 11 Leo was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. He almost joined another local team River Plate but weren't willing to pay the $900 a month because of his deficiency. Carles Rexard, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, was made aware of his talent as he had relatives living in Lleida in western Catalonia. This meant Leo could have a trial, Rexard not having a contract, he wrote on a napkin to sign him. FC Barcelona was willing to pay all the medical fees so he accepted to join here youth academy. Leo joined FC Barcelona junior Infantil B and Cadete A and B from 2000-2003, scoring 37 goals and 30 games in Cadate A.

awards hes won

1. FIFA Ballon d'Or: 2010, 2011, 2012[348] Ballon d'Or: 2009[348] FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009[348] FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2014[349] FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009, 2011[350] FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Ball: 2005[351] FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Boot: 2005[351] FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament: 2014[352] FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014[353][354] World Soccer World Player of the Year: 2009, 2011, 2012[355] FIFPro Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008[353] World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2008[353] IFFHS World's Best Top Goalscorer: 2011, 2012[356] IFFHS World's Best Top Division Goalscorer: 2012, 2013[356] ESPY Award for Best International Athlete: 2012, 2015[357] Marca Legend Award: 2009[358] L'Équipe Champion of Champions: 2011[359] La Gazzetta dello Sport Sportsman of the Year: 2011[360] Sports Illustrated #1 All-time Ultimate Soccer Draft (published 2012)[361] World Soccer Greatest XI of All Time (published 2013)[362] Europe European Golden Shoe: 2010, 2012, 2013[146] UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2009[363] UEFA Club Football Award for Best Forward: 2009[363] UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 2011, 2015[186] ESM Team of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015[364] UEFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014[363] El País Best Player in Europe: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012[365] Onze d'Or: 2009, 2011, 2012[358] UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year (published 2015)[366] UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2014–15[367] Golden Boy: 2005[44] Bravo Award: 2007[358] UEFA Goal of the Year: 2007[358] UEFA Champions League Goal of the Season: 2014–15[181] South America South American Youth Championship Silver Boot: 2005[368] Copa América Young Player of the Tournament: 2007[353] Copa América Best Player of the Tournament: 2015 (rejected)[256] Copa América Team of the Tournament: 2011, 2015[369][370] Olimpia de Plata Argentine Footballer of the Year Award: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013[358] Olimpia de Oro Argentine Sportsperson of the Year Award: 2011[358] L'Équipe #3 Top 50 South-American Footballers in History (published 2015)[371] Spain Pichichi Trophy: 2010, 2012, 2013[358] LFP Award for Best Player: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015[358][372][373] LFP Award for Best Forward: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015[358][372][374] LPF Team of the Season: 2014–15[375] Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2009, 2010, 2011[358] Trofeo EFE for Best Ibero-American Player in La Liga: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012[358][353] Don Balón Award for Best Foreign Player: 2007, 2009, 2010[358][353] Don Balón Team of the Decade (published 2010)[358]