Lionel Andrés Messi (born 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province) is an Argentine footballer who plays for Spanish La Liga club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team.

He has drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, and Maradona himself named Messi his "successor".

At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys.

At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.

River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for the treatment of the illness that cost $1500 a month.

Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, was made aware of Messi's talent, and Barcelona signed him after watching him play.

Offering to pay for the medical bills if he was willing to move to start a new life in Spain. His family moved to Europe and he started in the club's youth teams.