The story of Lionel Messi: From Rosario boy to football legend
Table of contents
The Birth of a Genius and the Initial Challenges
June 24, 1987Leanne MessiLionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini was born in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Football was in his blood from the very beginning. At just 5 years old, he joined his grandfather's local Grandoli club and began to show amazing football talent.
However, fate soon presented this genius with his first and most severe test. At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). This meant that his body could not grow normally and that he needed to receive treatment at a high cost (nearly $1,000) per month. His talent was obvious, but his family and his then-team, Newell's Old Boys, could not afford this huge expense.
Despite facing such difficult circumstances, young Messi never gave up his love for football. His perseverance and talent eventually attracted the attention of people on the Iberian Peninsula. Scouts from Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona recognized his talent and were willing to give him a chance. Thus began an adventure that would change the history of football.

| years | Age | event |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 0 | Born on June 24 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina. |
| 1991 | 4 | He started playing for his father's club, Grandoli, and his first coach was Salvador Aparicio. |
| 1994 | 7 | He joined the Newell's Old Boys youth team and was nicknamed "Little Man" because of his short stature. |
| 1997 | 10 | The family was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency, and the monthly treatment cost was about $900, plunging them into financial hardship. |
Messi's height during childhood compared to his peers (unit: centimeters)
| Age | Messi | Average of peers | gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 years old | 119 | 128 | -9 |
| 10 years old | 125 | 138 | –13 |
| 12 years old | 131 | 145 | –14 |

La Masia Years (2000-2004) – Young Eagles Spreading Their Wings
Time period: 2000–2004
In September 2000, a 13-year-old Messi arrived in Barcelona with his father, Jorge. Following a famous trial, Barcelona's technical director, Carles Rexach, didn't hesitate to write a letter of intent to sign Messi on a napkin, promising the club would cover his medical expenses. This "napkin contract" became one of the most legendary stories in football history.
At La Masia, Barcelona's world-renowned youth academy, the diminutive Messi quickly won over all the coaches and teammates. He turned his physical disadvantages into advantages, combining an extremely low center of gravity, terrifying frequency, and unparalleled ball control, making him like a sprite on the green field. He skipped grades rapidly, developing alongside future stars such as Fabregas and Pique.

Key milestones (at this stage):
- September 2000Arrived in Barcelona and joined the youth team.
- November 2003: He conducted his first joint training session with the first team.
- February 2004He signed his first professional contract with the club.
This period was a crucial stage in Messi's technical and mental development. The loneliness of being away from home made him more focused on football and shaped his introverted yet incredibly resilient character.
| years | Key events | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| 2000-09 | Trial with Barcelona | He signed his first contract on a napkin at the age of 13. |
| 2001-03 | Receive treatment | The club will cover all costs associated with the growth hormone. |
| 2003-04 | Juvenil A | 35 goals in 36 games, helping the team win the treble. |

A meteoric rise
Time period: 2004–2009
On October 16, 2004, at the age of 17 years and 114 days, Messi made his debut for Barcelona's first team as a substitute in a league match against Espanyol, becoming the club's youngest La Liga player at the time.
His rise was meteoric. On May 1, 2005, he scored his first La Liga goal against Albacete, with Ronaldinho providing the assist. The image of Ronaldinho carrying Messi on his back in celebration symbolized the passing of the torch.
In the 2006-07 season, he began to become a key figure for the team, scoring a hat-trick in the El Clásico to force a draw against Real Madrid, shocking the world. However, the real glory began in 2008 when Pep Guardiola took over as manager. Guardiola built Barcelona, known as the "Dream Team," around Messi.

Key milestones (at this stage):
- October 16, 2004La Liga debut.
- May 1, 2005His first goal in La Liga.
- 2005He won the FIFA U-20 World Cup with Argentina and was named the tournament's best player and Golden Boot.
- 2006-07 season: To replicate Malendana's "goal of the century".
- 2008-09 seasonHe won an unprecedented sextuple with Barcelona (La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA World Cup).
By this time, Messi had transformed from a promising young star into a world-class footballer, and in 2009 he won his first Ballon d'Or, officially ushering in his era.
Goal statistics for each youth training team (2001–2004)
| echelon | Season | Play | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadete A | 01–02 | 30 | 37 |
| Juvenil B | 02–03 | 14 | 21 |
| Juvenil A | 03–04 | 36 | 35 |

Best of all time (2009-2014)
Time period: 2009–2014
These five years represent the absolute peak of Messi's personal statistics and accolades. Under Guardiola's tactical system, he was given unprecedented tactical freedom, and his goal-scoring ability was fully unleashed.
In 2012, he set one of the greatest individual records in sports history:91 goals in a single yearHe broke Gerd Müller's 40-year-old record of 85 goals. That year, he almost single-handedly elevated individual football performance to a new level.
His midfield trio of Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi, known as the "Xavi-Iniesta-Messi" midfield trio, perfectly embodied the philosophy of possession-based football. Together, they won countless honors, and Messi also played a crucial role during this period.He won the Globe Award for four consecutive years (2009-2012).This is an unprecedented achievement.

Key milestones (at this stage):
- 2009-2012He won the Golden Globe Award for four consecutive years.
- 2010-11 and 2012-13 seasons: Win two more Europa League titles.
- 2012He scored 91 goals in a calendar year, setting a world record.
- 2011-12 seasonHe scored 50 La Liga goals in a single season, setting a new La Liga record.
Despite his unparalleled success at the club level, national team honors, especially the World Cup, remained his greatest desire. In the 2014 Brazil World Cup, he led Argentina to the final, only to fall short in extra time, losing to Germany. That moment of gazing at the World Cup trophy became one of the most heartbreaking images in World Cup history.

| Season | Play | Goal | Assists | champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04–05 | 9 | 1 | 1 | La Liga |
| 08–09 | 51 | 38 | 18 | Triple Crown |
| 11–12 | 60 | 73 | 29 | Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup |
| 14–15 | 57 | 58 | 27 | Triple Crown |
| 20–21 | 47 | 38 | 12 | King's Cup |

Four consecutive Ballon d'Or titles (2009–2012)
- He won his first Ballon d'Or in 2009, beginning his four-peat.
- He scored 91 goals in 2012, breaking Gerd Müller's previous record of 85 goals.
| Event | Play | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 37 | 59 |
| Champions League | 11 | 13 |
| King's Cup | 7 | 9 |
| national team | 9 | 12 |
| other | 5 | 8 |

The joys and sorrows, and perseverance of the national team (2014-2021)
Time period: 2014–2021
The World Cup defeat was a huge blow to Messi. Afterwards, his journey with the national team seemed cursed. In 2015 and 2016, Argentina lost to Chile in the Copa America final for two consecutive years, finishing as runners-up. Especially after missing a penalty in the 2016 final, a disheartened Messi even announced his retirement from the national team.
However, his love for his country and the earnest pleas of his teammates made him reconsider his decision. He chose to continue fighting. Although Barcelona's competitiveness at the club level was gradually declining due to an aging squad and chaotic management, Messi still single-handedly carried the team forward, constantly breaking various goal and assist records.
The turning point came in 2021. At the Copa America held in Brazil, the Argentine team displayed unprecedented unity. Messi, as captain and key player, contributed a perfect record of 4 goals and 5 assists, leading the team to victory against strong opponents and ultimately defeating arch-rivals Brazil in the final.We won the championship!
This weighty trophy is not only Messi's first major international title, but also Argentina's first major tournament victory in 28 years. It broke through his mental barriers, proved Messi's perseverance and leadership, and paved the way for his ultimate dream.

Turning Point and Rebirth (2021-2023)
Time period: 2021–2023
Due to Barcelona's severe financial crisis, the club was unable to renew the contract of their all-time greatest player. In August 2021, at a tearful farewell press conference, Messi was forced to leave the club he had served for 21 years.
He chose to join French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). During his two seasons in Paris, he adapted to the new league and role. Although he failed to lead the team to a breakthrough in the Europa League, he still contributed excellent statistics and won two Ligue 1 titles. More importantly, his time in Paris allowed him to build up sufficient physical reserves for the 2022 World Cup.
| Season | Play | Goal | Assists | champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21–22 | 34 | 11 | 15 | Ligue 1 |
| 22–23 | 41 | 21 | 20 | French Ligue 1, French Super Cup |

Miami and the ultimate fulfillment of the World Cup (2023 to present)
Time period: 2022 – present

2022 Qatar World CupThis was the stage for Messi's final dance. At 35, he carried the hopes of the entire nation on his shoulders. From the shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening group stage match to his triumphant run through the remaining stages, every pass, every breakthrough, and every goal he scored was filled with determination.
This World Cup was practically a perfect script written for him: a crucial goal, a brilliant assist, an epic final showdown with Mbappe, a last-minute equalizer in extra time, and a morale-stabilizing performance in the penalty shootout… Ultimately, Argentina defeated France in the penalty shootout.Win the World Cup again after 36 years!
Messi finally lifted the World Cup trophy he had always dreamed of, bringing his legendary national team career to a perfect close. He also unsurprisingly won the Golden Ball award. With that, his career trophy cabinet was now completely filled.
In 2023, after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired, Messi made a surprising yet heartwarming decision: to join Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer (MLS). He brought his legend to North America to continue enjoying pure football.

| Event | years | Messi's performance | ending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copa America | 2021 | 4 goals and 5 assists | champion |
| European and American Super Cup | 2022 | 1 goal, 1 assist | champion |
| World Cup | 2022 | 7 games, 7 goals | champion |
| Copa America | 2024 | 1 goal, 5 assists | champion |

Messi's World Cup statistics
| years | Play | Goal | Assists | score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 | 1 | 1 | quarterfinals |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 | 1 | quarterfinals |
| 2014 | 7 | 4 | 1 | runner up |
| 2018 | 4 | 1 | 2 | Round of 16 |
| 2022 | 7 | 7 | 3 | champion |

Chart of key milestones in Liano Messi's career
| date | milestone | place | opponent | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-05-01 | First La Liga goal | Barcelona | Albacete | 17 years and 10 months |
| 2009-05-27 | Scoring in the Champions League final | Rome | Manchester United | First Champions League |
| 2012-03-20 | Barcelona's all-time top scorer | Barcelona | Granada | 234 balls |
| 2012-12-22 | 91 goals of the year | Valladolid | Real Valladolid | World Records |
| 2014-07-13 | World Cup Golden Ball Award | Rio de Janeiro | Germany | Though defeated, still honorable. |
| 2016-02-17 | 300 goals in La Liga | Gijón | Sporting Gijón | First in history |
| 2019-12-02 | The 6th Golden Globe | Paris | – | Beyond Cruyff |
| 2021-03-22 | Barcelona's 700th goal | Sevilla | Royal Society | Team's all-time leader in appearances on the same day |
| 2022-12-18 | World Cup champion | Qatar | France | 7 games, 7 goals |
| 2023-03-24 | 800 career goals | Buenos Aires | Panama | Free ball |
| 2023-08-20 | North American League Cup champion | Nashville | Nashville | First championship in team history |
| 2024-07-15 | 45th championship | Miami | Colombia | First in history |

Not only a genius, but also a symbol of hard work.
Messi's career overview (as of July 15, 2024)
| project | data |
|---|---|
| Professional total appearances | 1,100+ |
| Total goals in career | 821 |
| Total assists in career | 361 |
| Number of championships | 45 |
| Golden Globe Awards | 8 |
| World Footballer of the Year | 7 |
| Champions League | 4 |
| La Liga | 10 |
| Ligue 1 | 2 |
| World Cup | 1 |
| Copa America | 2 |
The story of Leanne Messiaen is far more than just the story of a genius's meteoric rise. It is more about...Striving, persevering, and overcoming adversityAn epic.
He overcame the challenges of a congenital illness and ventured alone from distant Argentina to Europe; he endured countless brutal fouls, yet always responded with even more brilliant performances; he experienced the unforgettable pain of losing multiple finals, but never truly gave up, and finally waited for the rainbow after the rain.
His football skills were a gift from God, but his greatness was forged from his own sweat, tears, and indomitable spirit. From Rosario to Barcelona, from the disappointment of the World Cup to the triumphs of the Copa America and the World Cup, Leano Messi used his entire career to write the most vivid and glorious footnote to the word "struggle." He was not just a football player; he was a legendary icon of the sport, a spiritual symbol that inspired countless people.
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