Page #02: Lionel Messi's success story and his present day career

LIONEL MESSI'S SUCCESS STORY:

Every football fan must know of a great footballer by name Lionel Messi. Messi has accumulated many fans for himself as a result of his skills in football. This great and talented footballer who stands as a role model to many football fans and players has made his way to the top in the field of soccer. Barcelona FC is known to be celebrated today because of this great football titan. Messi’s abilities in the football pitch has made people perplexed and amazed at the way he handles and controls ball in the pitch. His soccer talent is simply unimaginable. He is an excellent genius as far as football is concerned. Messi’s soccer skills made me develop interest in his background and success story. Surely, Messi had his limitations but he strived to overcome them and today, he is the most celebrated, highest paid and world’s best soccer player ever known.
Now, let’s take a look at the success story of Lionel Andres Messi:
Lionel Andres Messi popularly known as Messi,

is a renowned and one of the greatest soccer players of our time. He is also the highest earning footballer in the world. He plays the forward position for FC Barcelona and Argentina national team.
Messi was born in the year 1987, June 24 at Rosario, central Argentina. He was born into the family of Mr. Jorge Messi and Mrs. Celia Maria Cuccittin. Messi wasn’t born with a golden spoon in his mouth. He was from a poor family but he was destined for greatness. Messi’s father: Mr. Jorge Messi, was a factory steel worker while his Mother: Mrs. Maria Cuccittin, worked as a part time cleaner. His parents were not financially buoyant but they were excellent at parenting. Despite their financial challenges, Mr. Jorge Messi was determined to bring out the best in his children. He was a man who could see his children’s future as a shining star that will never set. He trained his children to embrace their talents and make a living out of it. “A man’s gift maketh way for him.” Mr. Messi continuously encouraged his children to discover their talents at their tender age. In the process of rendering his parental duty, he discovered Lionel Messi’s talent in soccer and decided to help Messi develop his talent. At a tender age of five, Messi started playing ball for Grandoli: a local football team club coached by his father. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell’s old boys where he became part of a local youth powerhouse. At his tender age, Messi was popularly known as “the machine of 87”.
At the age of 11, Messi encountered one of his greatest life-challenges; he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency which restricted his growth. He was the shortest player in his team- among his age grades, but that didn’t discourage Messi. Even in the midst of challenges, he strived to survive.
Messi’s talent in soccer was so irresistible that football clubs started showing interest in Him.
Argentina’s River plate FC showed interest in Messi’s talent and was willing to sign him in as their player but the deal was fruitless because they lacked the fund to sponsor Messi’s medical bill which costs $900 per month. Messi was rejected by this club because of his health condition. What can be more discouraging than this? Yet, Messi never gave up. Messi’s optimism rewarded him at the age of 13, when the sporting director of FC Barcelona: Carlex Rexach, was made aware of messi’s talent in soccer. Carlex discovered that Messi was greatly talented and decided to invest in him. He offered Messi a contract written on a napkin paper and also, offered to sponsor Messi’s medical bills with the condition that Messi relocates to spain. What a great offer? “A man’s gift maketh way for him.” Messi and his father moved to spain where Messi was enrolled into the club’s youth Academy-known for training and producing excellent footballers.
Messi was determined to judiciously utilize the opportunity given to him. So, he trained vigorously well and proved himself worthy which made him have his first appearance for Barcelona at the age of 16. In may 2005, He broke record as the youngest player to ever score a goal.
In 2009, Messi led Barcelona to success. Barca became the first spanish club to ever capture the “treble”- winning the copa del Ray, La liga and champions league tournament. After scoring 49 goals in the 2009 season, his manager said, “Messi is the best player he had ever seen.” Messi’s skills in soccer made a prominent footballer; Maradona say, “I can see myself in him.” I agree with the fact that Messi is a great, successful and highly talented footballer. Have you ever noticed the confidence in people whenever the ball rolls into Messi’s multi-million dollars legs? You hear things like “Messi will score a goal now” or “A goal is on the way” or “yes! I trust Messi.” That is to show the level of confidence Messi has made people develop in him. At the age of 25, Messi became the youngest player to score 200 la liga goals. Messi is widely recognized as the best player in the world and rated as the greatest footballer of all times. He broke record by being the first soccer player to win four FIFA/ Ballon d’or world’s player of the year award consecutively. He was also the first to win three European Golden shoe awards. On 16th Feb, 2013, Messi scored his 300th Barcelona goal. Till today, Messi remains the highest goal scorer ever known. In the year 2011, Messi’s net worth was estimated at $110 million by forbes. On 18th September, Messi signed a new contract with Barca running till 2016 and with a buy out clause of £250 million included. As at Dec. 2012, Messi’s base salary was raised to $21.2million after an annoncement of the 5year contract extension signed by Messi which will keep him at FC Barcelona until 2018 with his buy out clause still at £250 million. It is pertinent you know that Messi is not just a talented and successful footballer but also a great philanthropist. His love for children made him to launch Leo Messi’s foundation in 2007. His foundation was established to support the education and health care of vulnerable children. In 2010, Lionel Messi was also named a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.

There are many lessons to learn from the success story of this great footballer. A man now celebrated and recognized for his outstanding talent. Despite his limitations: his financial background, his health condition, rejection, physical limitation, and so on, he was still determined to make great use of his inherent ability. Today, the world has overlooked its limitations and all they can see is his success.

LIONEL’S SUCCESS PRINCIPLES:

1) Self-discovery
2) Determination

3) Perseverance

4) Personal development of his talent

5) Optimism

6) Dedication and Focus

7) Self-confidence

8) Self-belief

9) Love for humanity

10) His act of charity

Lionel Messi Biography

Lionel Messi is an Argentinian footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players of the modern generation. He plays for FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He has won FIFA world player of the year four times (a record already). He has often been described as Diego Maradona’s successor because of his prolific goal scoring record and ability to dribble past opponents.

“I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius, and he can become an even better player.”

His potential is limitless, and I think he’s got everything it takes to become Argentina’s greatest player.”

– Diego Maradona

Short Biography Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi was born, 24 June 1987, in Rosario, Argentina to a working-class family. His father was a factory steel worker, and his mother a cleaner.

He began playing from an early age, and his talent was soon apparent. However, at the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). This was a condition that stunted growth and required expensive medical treatment, including the use of the drug Human growth hormone.

His local club, River Plate were interested in signing Messi but didn’t want to pay for his medical treatment. However, Messi was given a trial with Barcelona, and coach Carles Rexach was impressed – offering Messi a contract (written on a paper napkin!) which included paying for Messi’s treatment in Spain. Messi moved to Barcelona with his father and became part of the prestigious FC Barcelona youth academy.

“I made a lot of sacrifices by leaving Argentina, leaving my family to start a new life. But everything I did, I did for football, to achieve my dream. That’s why I didn’t go out partying, or do a lot of other things.”

– Lionel Messi

Messi progressed through the ranks and was given his first appearance in the 2004/05 season becoming the youngest player to score a league goal. In 2006, Messi was part of the double winning team which won both La Liga (Spanish League) and Champions League. By next season, (2006-07) aged just 20, Messi was the first choice striker and an essential part of the Barcelona team – scoring 14 goals in 26 league games.

In the 2009-10 season, Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, equalling Ronaldo’s record total for Barcelona. As the seasons have progressed, Messi kept improving and breaking his own records. In the calendar year of 2012, he broke the all-time world record for most goals scored in a calendar year. His final total of goals in 2012 was 91 – beating the previous record of 85 by German Gerd Muller, and Pele’s milestone of 75 in 1958.

“My record stood for 40 years – 85 goals in a year – and now the best player in the world has broken it, and I’m delighted for him. He is an incredible player, gigantic.”

– Gerd Muller

At the start of 2013, in club football, Messi has scored 292 goals from a total of 359 appearances, and in international football, 31 goals from 76 appearances.

At the end of 2012, Messi turned down a very lucrative offer to play for an unnamed Russian side. It would have given Messi a salary of €20 million a year and made Messi the most expensive player in the world (Barcelona would have been paid €250 million). He turned down the offer because he was unsure if he would be playing in major European championships and the difficulties in moving to Russia. Instead, he signed a contract with Barcelona until the end of 2018. When asked about moving to the English Premier League, Messi revealed his sense of commitment to Barcelona.

“Barcelona is my life. They have brought me to where I am today. I could not leave, I don’t want to leave. I know the Premier League is very good. But I cannot see myself playing in England because my heart is with Barcelona, always.”

– Lionel Messi

International Career

Because Messi was brought up in Spain, since he was 11 years old, he has Spanish nationality. In 2004, he was offered the chance to play for Spain’s Under 20 side, but Messi decided to play for Argentina, the country of his birth. He led Argentina to victory in the 2005 FIFA Youth Championship. Messi made his full international debut in August 2005, during a friendly against Hungary. In his first game, Messi was sent off for allegedly elbowing a player. The decision was contentious and not in keeping with Messi’s style of play which is generally clean and in the spirit of fair play; he has very rarely been accused of diving.

In 2006, he participated in the World Cup, becoming Argentina’s youngest player to play in the world cup. Argentina were eliminated in the quarter-finals. In 2008, he won an Olympic gold medal for Argentina in football at the Beijing Olympics. Initially, Barcelona had not allowed him permission to play, but new coach Pep Guardiola allowed him time off.

In the 2010 World Cup, Messi wore the number 10 shirt and played well to help Argentina reach the quarter-finals, but Messi struggled to score, and Argentina disappointingly lost 4-0 to Germany in the quarter-final. Messi has admitted he is desperate to play in a world cup final. Success for Messi in the World Cup would be the last test of greatness. Pele, by contrast, was part of Brazil’s three times winning World Cup side ’58, ’62 and ’70.

Messi is widely regarded as one of the most exciting players of the modern age – in fact, any age. He has a peerless ability to dribble and take on opponents. Maradona has described his ball control as supremely good. “The ball stays glued to his foot; I’ve seen great players in my career, but I’ve never seen anyone with Messi’s ball control.” Messi has said he wishes to retain the joy of how a child plays football

“I have changed nothing, my style of play is still that of a child. I know that above all it is my job and that I should approach it in another way, but one must not lose sight of the fact that football is a game. It is imperative one plays to amuse oneself, to be happy. That is what children do and I do the same thing.” (total Barca)

– Lionel Messi

After winning the Ballon d’Or for the fourth time in January 2013, Messi said:

“To tell you the truth this is really quite unbelievable. The fourth award that I have had is just too great for words. ” (BBC)

Messi and Ronaldo

Messi has often been compared to prolific Real Madrid goalscorer Christiano Ronaldo, but both have been keen to downplay the rivalry.

“Messi has his personality and I have mine. He has his game and I have mine. I also play in a big club like him. We are different in every aspect. But right now, he is the best.”

—Christiano Ronaldo, in September 2011

Messi’s goalscoring record

By any standards, Messi’s goal scoring record is exceptional. By February 2013, he has scored 301 goals in 365 official matches for Barcelona FC.

• In 2012/13, Messi set an all-time world record of scoring in 21 consecutive games (33 goals from 21 games)
• He holds the Guinness World Record for most goals in a calendar year – 86 goals during 2012.
• He is the only player to score in four consecutive Champions League campaigns.
• As of February 2014, Messi has scored 343 club goals out of 434 appearances (including Barcelona B team)
• His international record for Argentina is 37 goals from 83 appearances.

Messi major honours

Barcelona

• Spanish La Liga title(*8) : 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16
• Spanish Cup (*2)– Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12; Runner-up 2010–11
• Supercopa de España (*6): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013; Runner-up 2012
• UEFA Champions League (*4) : 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014-15
• UEFA Super Cup (*2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
• FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011

Argentina

• Olympic Gold Medal: 2008
• FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
• 2006 World Cup – QF
• 2010 World Cup – QF
• 2014 World Cup – Runners-up.

Wealth and income

Messi has frequently been the target of other football clubs with big transfer budgets, but he has remained loyal to Barcelona FC. He is one of the highest paid footballers in the world. His base salary is estimated at €16 million net a year, until 2018. His net wealth is estimated at €110m.

Private life

By the standards of modern football, Messi has a relatively private and modest lifestyle. He makes efforts to keep links to his hometown of Rosario. He has an Argentinian girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo, and they have one child Thiago, born in November 2012.

Messi acts as an ambassador for Unicef, and also runs his own charitable foundation – supporting access to education and sport for children. Because of his own expensive medical treatment, he has also helped Argentinian hospitals with paying for similar treatment to his own.

World Cup 2014

Many commentators have stated that Lionel Messi has performed at his best in all competitions, except the World Cup. In both the 2006 and 2010 World Cup, Argentina were knocked out in the quarter-finals, with Messi not at his best.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is an opportunity for Messi to make an impact on the highest stage of them all. In the opening game against, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Messi scored a great goal to give Argentina a winning start. He scored four goals to help Argentina reach the World Cup Final. In the final, Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany. Messi was awarded ‘Golden Ball’ player of the tournament, though the decision was not universally supported. After the tournament, Messi replied:

“I do not care about the Golden Ball. I am just upset by the wasted chances. We had the best chances. We knew we could not dominate the game but we knew what we wanted to do. Right now I do not care about my prize. I just wanted to lift the cup and bring it to Argentina. The pain is very great.”

In June 2016, a very disappointed Messi announced his retirement from international football, after missing a penalty as Argentina got knocked out of the Copa America final. However, Messi later reversed his decision, saying he loved playing for Argentina too much, and “I see there are many problems in Argentinian football and I don’t intend to create another one.”

However, Messi returned to international football and led Argentina in the 2018 World Cup. Despite carrying the weight of expectation of a nation, the World Cup was considered a great dissappointment. However, in the 2018/19 season Messi returned to his usual scintillating performance with Barcelona.

Published 10 January 2018. Last updated 10 December 2019.

Stats

• Full name Lionel Andrés Messi
• Date of birth 24 June 1987 (1987-06-24)
• Place of birth Rosario, Argentina
• Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
• Playing Position: Forward
• Total club appearances 684. Total Goals 578 (Dec. 2018)
• Total international appearances 151. Total Goals 81 (Dec. 2018)
• La Liga titles with Barcelona (9)
• UEFA Champions League (4) 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
• FIFA Ballon d’Or/Ballon d’Or (5)
• Guinness World Record as top goalscorer for club and country in a calendar year: 91 goals in 2012