| Andres Messi was born June 24, 1987 in Rosario, | | | | season that Messi completed a hat-trick against |
| Argentina and six years later began playing football. | | | | arch-rival Real Madrid. One in the first half, one in the |
| Messi was not to live a normal life though, at the age | | | | second half, and the equalizer in injury time. Many |
| of eleven he was diagnosed with a Growth Hormone | | | | people may see this and say who cares but it was |
| Deficiency. This may seem like a bad thing but this is | | | | during this game that a Barcelona player was ejected |
| where Messi first got his shot at playing with a major | | | | early in the first half and Barcelona had to play a man |
| team. It was at this time F.C. Barcelona decided to | | | | down for just about the whole game. |
| sign Messi if he would move to Spain and undergo | | | | In the 2007- 2008 season Messi scored 5 goals in the |
| treatment there while playing for their youth leagues. | | | | space of a week. He had two goals against Sevilla |
| So Messi and his family agreed and this is where the | | | | which he dedicated to the injured Ronaldinho. He |
| breakout began. | | | | scored in Barcelonas 3-0 win over Lyon. In this |
| On November 16, 2003 Messi made his unofficial | | | | season Messi was nominated for the FIFPro World XI |
| debut for Barcelona's first team against FC Porto | | | | Player Award. He was also said to be the best player |
| while he was still only 16 yrs and 145 days old. This | | | | in the world after winning 77% of the votes in an |
| was again an unofficial debut but his shot would | | | | online poll conducted by a Spanish newspaper Marca. |
| come the next year at 17 yrs 144 days old against | | | | In 2008- 2009 Messi inherited the legendary |
| rival team Espanyol. Messi was the third youngest | | | | Ronaldinho's number 10 jersey and in his first |
| player ever to start for Barcelona but now sits | | | | apperance back from injury he wore it so very well. |
| fourth on that list because Krkic broke that reacord. | | | | Coming on as a second half substitute for Thierry |
| Messi also holds the record for being the youngest | | | | Henry Messi scored two goals in the space of 7 |
| player to ever score in La Liga at 17 yrs 10 mon 7 | | | | minutes to push FC Barcelona past Shakhtar Donetsk |
| days old. | | | | for a 2-1 victory. During the first meeting of the two |
| Messi career again began blossoming in the 2005- | | | | arch-rivals this season Messi netted one goal as they |
| 2006 season as his contract was extended for the | | | | swept aside Real Madrid 2-0. |
| second time in six months with the final extension | | | | Players past and present have declared this man as |
| ending in June 2014. That season Messi scored six | | | | the greatest player in the game today and possibly |
| goals in 17 league appearances and one goal in his | | | | one of the best in history. The only question is will |
| first six appearances at the European Champions | | | | this football god continue on his rise or will he just hit |
| League. It is unfortunate that this season had to end | | | | a plateau and stay there. All indicators point that he is |
| early because on March 7, 2006 he suffered a muscle | | | | going to get better being that he is only 21 yrs old |
| tear in his right thigh. But this was not the end of the | | | | and still has so much yet to learn about the game of |
| story. | | | | football. Here are some of the greats who bill him as |
| Then came the 2006- 2007 season which is probably | | | | the best player in the world: Diego Maradona, Pele, |
| the biggest year of his career. It was during this | | | | Antonio Cassano,Samuel Eto'o, Guti, and Raul. |
| season that Messi scored the Maradona goal by | | | | Still to this day Messi is considered to be one of the |
| beating six players to include the keeper after | | | | top players in the game and has impressive career |
| sprinting for 62 meters. It was also during this season | | | | stats (91 league appearances, 41 goals). So if you |
| that Messi copied another one of Maradona's | | | | have never gotten to watch this guy play then you |
| pattonted goals. As the ball was crossed in front of | | | | are seriously missing out. For all those who say this is |
| the goal, Messi launched himself at the ball and put | | | | a boring sport start watching one of the top young |
| out his hand to guide the ball passed the keeper for | | | | players in the world and it will be so much more |
| a goal that would send the Espanyol players and fans | | | | exciting to watch I guarantee it. |
| into a mad frenzy of hate. It was also during this | | | | |