Lionel Messi: A Biography – The Genius of Soccer

Carlos Gardel and Eva Peron to Maradona and Lionel Messi

"He (Lionel Messi) is the best player certain distance in the world, "Arsne Wenger, the coach of FC Arsenal, has proclaimed five feet eight inches tall, the Argentine-born football star," He & # 39; s (like) a PlayStation also take advantage of every mistake we make. ".

As elsewhere in Latin America, much of Argentina & # 39; s sports history has been dominated by football — known simply as football in the States– since 1920th After Argentina & # 39; Jorge Rafael Videla's military strongman Redondo, a hated tyrant, declared a priority to win the 1970 FIFA Global Cup, the nation & # 39; and football players in the world have invaded a number of global awards and trophies. On June 25, 1978, Mario Kempes and his players lifted the winner & # 39; s Cup after scoring an overwhelming victory in a home game against the Peruvian team led by an Argentinian-born goalkeeper (6-0) in the semifinals. Within a year, Japan & # 39; s capital, Tokyo, the South American contingent, led by Diego Armando Maradona, considered the best junior team on the planet at the expense of the former Soviet Union / Soviet Union. Shortly afterwards, Argentina was one of the "big favorites" to the man & # 39; he joined the US-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games football tournament before. Three years later, the national side came close to winning the IV Global Junior Championship.

June 29, 1986, Los Celestes, as the national team is known around the world, ranked first in the FIFA Cup in the United Mexican States; One of the most memorable matches ever seen in World Cup history played there as England defeated Argentina – Maradona and his teammates tried to win the game, he lost his compatriots in the 1982 Anglo-Argentine Falklands War. Argentina in 1990, Maradona has once again put the final of the FIFA Cup on Italian soil. The space of six years, 1995 and 2005 was a four-time winner of the national contingent in the World Under-20 tournament. It was at this time that the name Messi appeared on the scene.

Argentine-born Messi, who called it "the Flea", is a strong and powerful forward who plays for FC Barcelona and (since 2003) and Argentina & # 39; s national team (2006) .Curiously, he has spent his entire career with the Spanish club (nearly 10 years), working in different teams (Under-15, U-17, U-19 and other teams). Messi almost indispensable to his club (known for the popular "Barca") – he is the backbone of Barcelona & # 39; s 4-3-3 formation. However, he would like to play football in the Argentine side after he refused to become a member of the Spanish national team despite being strongly linked to European nations. In addition to an Argentine-born person Messi, of Italian background, a Spanish citizen since the mid-2000s. From 2005 until 2011, Messi collected more than seventy individual awards. In fact, your success as an athlete in large part to his perseverance and hard discipline. According to the Paris-based magazine France Football, Messi is the world & # 39; s top paid footballer. In addition, the center — a soccer gold medal in the 2008 Olympics– gained international stature as a champion of children's rights.

Although Lionel Andres Messi, called the occasion "a spirit center", is considered one of the greatest footballers to have never won the World Cup (with Ferenc Puskás, Hungary and Liberia & # 39; s George Weah), he has been one of the most well-known male athletes in the global sporting map. In the western hemisphere, Messi, who is often compared to Maradona inspired thousands of young would-be football players to follow their dreams, especially in poverty-stricken areas. But not only that, more people know about it in Argentina –which is a long history of man-made disasters — than ever. In his home turf, the state can only be compared to three national statistic: Argentina & # 39; s First Lady Eva Perón postwar made famous by Andrew Lloyd Webber & # 39; — s musical Evita, Maradona and Carlos Gardel, nicknamed the "songbird of Buenos Aires" and who helped popularize the tango around the world.

Lionel Messi: The Rough Diamond

Lionel Messi & # 39; and his life changed forever when he plucked out the Spanish-speaking republic of Argentina a talent to play Barca, which is often referred to as one of the best clubs around the Globe possession outside hundreds of millions of soccer fans own borders, Bangladesh and Guinea-Bissau to San Marino and the Feroe Islands.

There will be a top athlete (female) if you do not achieve remarkable results, if not a hard worker, and the whole, if you are not able to overcome the obstacles in life. In fact, Lionel Messi knows firsthand about that. Like his fellow Argentine Maradona, Messi is small – who stands 5 feet 8 inches tall – the situation forward, but he overcame this amazing ability and the extraordinary intelligence brought, earning the nickname "Flea". His athletic career, he also overcame another obstacle is: numerous injuries, especially in the Rikjaard & # 39; s directions. Throughout the year, as a boy, he went to the country's deepest recession in the Americas. But that's not all. Due to illness, he almost gave up the sport. In 2008, Messi sent troubles of the summer games because of dual citizenship and status as a professional football player for Barcelona. Against the wishes of the club, but Messi is the largest professional footballer of all time arrived in Beijing on Argentine team (the defending champion). The Olympic stadium, shortly thereafter, he and his colleagues were champions, so the history of the People & # 39; s Republic of China. Currently, Barcelona Messi will not sell anything in the world.

Messi bases its success on the basis of their ability to play with a passion, determination, discipline and hard of exceptional ability. No player ever to qualify invincible world of football, but Messi is probably the most talented person ever to carry a ball. In every match, Messi plays as if it were a game of FIFA World Cup.

Rosario: the birth of a footballer

born in the Argentine city of Rosario (Santa Fe Province), 24 June 1987 – a year after the country captured the FIFA World Tournament Mexican metropolis — Messi is one of four children born Jorge Horacio Messi and his wife, the former Celia Mara Cucittini. Interestingly, he is one of the four most important individuals in Rosario next to Libertad Lamarque (performer), Valeria Mazza (supermodel) and César Luis Menotti (football coach).

The father's steel factory worker. In fact, Messi inherited his father's football genes coach who, during a short period of time. Meanwhile, Messi & # 39; s mother admirer worthy people, and I wanted the kids to famous names. Celia Mara after her son Lionel's favorite idol Lionel Richie, Grammy Award-winning singer / songwriter, whose chart-topping pop hits in the 1980s, is "real" and "You Are" and "All Night Long".

Like most of Argentina & # 39; Octavio Dazz and athletes (cycling), David Nalbandian (tennis) and Manu Ginibili (basketball), Lionel reflect the Italian roots of his homeland. His father & # 39; s family: Italy & # 39; and the city of Ancona, who came to Latin America with a series of large-scale European immigration at the turn of the 19th century. This Spanish-trained professional soccer, high-scoring forward in Barcelona, ​​two brothers, Rodrigo and Matas, and a sister, Maria Sol. On the other hand, cousins ​​and Emmanuel Maximiliano Biancucchi also football players.

The sporting life goes back to when Messi grew up playing football in Rosario, a land renowned for their sporting passion and hosted the World Cup for professional and amateurs, including men & # 39; s World Cup (1978) and Men & # 39; s Volleyball Tournament Global (1982); Messi can take credit, because he was appointed the official ambassador Rosario & # 39; s 2019 Pan American offer. In this Olympic atmosphere, Jorge Horacio Messi did not hide his ambitions of his son.

Like many Latino Champs –among Edwin Vásquez Cam them (recording) and Nancy Lopez (golf) – Messi was introduced to the sport by her father. Prior to joining Newell & # 39; s Old Boy & # 39; s young side, Lionel -when was only five years old — played for the local team Grandioli, where his father was the coach. On this occasion, the smaller the goalkeeper Lionel football team. At that time, there was a lot of athletic ability, but not the technical knowledge. Shortly after, while Lionel demonstrated his talent in under-10 competitions at home and abroad in the mid-1990s, the Argentine boy, at the age of 11, was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Since then, begins before an athletic career as a junior player had to beat back a disease in the coming years, the treatment of which it will be $ 900 per month. But despite this problem, the enthusiasm for football was incredible.

The Golden Opportunity

recognizing Messi & # 39; s precocious talent, Carles Rexach, the sporting administrators, promised to pay for FC Barcelona is the treatment if he has decideto game in the famous club.The answer is 'yes', of course. As a consequence of this, Messi and his parents moved permanently barcelonès ground, a football-crazy place. On this occasion, the youth was sad to leave his home city. However, the Spanish site had a special significance Messi: There is, on May 3, 1980, his fellow Argentine Maradona has signed a six-year contract with the traditional side.

Travel proved a turning point in his life. The capital and largest city in Spain & # 39; and the Catalan region — one of Europe & # 39; and the first-tier cities — Messi received a scholarship to play football Barca & # 39; In addition to athletic academy and Xabi Alonso, Gerard Pique, Andrs Iniesta and the other boys. The Club & # 39; s Youth Academy (which Western Europe & # 39; s major sports academies), has been created with one primary goal in mind: Scans up to 300 young talents and transform some of them champions. The Barcelona youth squads always busy & # 39; s leading sports. In recent decades, the Spanish club sent scouts in Latin America looking for promising young athletes.

In addition to the nation & # 39; s second largest city after Madrid, Barcelona is a place that is closely tied to the Olympic movement, physical activity and all the values ​​that sport represents the 21st Century. This corner of the planet, the host of the 1992 Summer Olympics, an international bleachers recreational areas, sports academies and state-of-the-art Olympic facility on a par with other sporting cities such as London (UK), Singapore City, Doha (Qatar), Montreal (Canada), Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Los Angeles (CA). Also, this was the home of Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch, the former president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the world & # 39; s most talented and influential sports administrators.

during a time of year, after overcoming illness, Messi, who was about four feet seven inches tall, was one of Barca & # 39; s best male players in the Boys & # 39; Department of the Spanish football league. It was outstanding the entire event, scoring more than 35 goals and setting numerous records in his age group. A few years later, under the auspices of Spain & # 39; s Club, Messi quickly improved his game, and was promoted to the senior team & # 39; s starting lineup, compete in competitions under the age of 19.

Encouraged by Frank Rijkaard

The young teen, she got the first chance to use his talents as a member of Barca & # 39; s official contingent when he made the first appearance in a friendly against Porto on November 16, 2003. After the initial impact, scoring 22 goals in junior tournaments, the up-and-coming Messi was at the end of 2003 through to the reserves team: the between won the "C" before the right to play in the Barcelona B side, a second division club. Messi, as a young athlete gained sufficient expertise to participate in senior football events, face-to-face is the best professional players in Europe and abroad. This is an excellent school for, of course.

After watching sport performance for the junior competitions of traditional Spanish soil, Frank Rijkaard, Barca & # 39; s great coach at the time, put the garbage Messi –perhaps most famous pupil – and there is no doubt that he will be the next greatest soccer player of the Planet — Maybe Maradona. Nevertheless, the high-flying coach was not the first to get excited about the potential Messi. On the other hand, backed Rijkaard some young players, including Carles Puyol and Vctor Valds.

The age of 17, Messi had a chance to show its sporty potential. Fortunately he did not disappoint Barca & # 39; s soccer fans and sports officials when he entered the highest level of Spanish championship, the transfer of many leading footballers and the youngest player in the domestic football league. It was one of the greatest moments in Messi & # 39; and life on the football field.

Encouraged by his coach, Frank Rijkaard, Messi, months later made his mark on the club, scoring against his first senior goal Albacete Balompi became the youngest footballer to Barcelona to ever score in domestic football league, the world & # 39; s most competitive sports tournaments. By any standards, this is a phenomenal achievement. In fact, Rijkaard made it the focus of the team & # 39; offfensive s new system. Later, Messi spoke about Rijkaard thanks, "I will never forget the fact that he launched my career, for trusting in me, while I was only sixteen or seventeen." Undoubtedly, he is considered one of the big prospects in world football.

The Champion of the Netherlands

In the mid-2000s, Messi brought home the country & # 39; Junior's fifth global title, the huge success of the South American republics; That was the history that day the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Messi began his work home when Argentina & # 39; and sports officials called on him to join the 2005 Junior World Cup team. Always a favorite of hard Dutch fans of the national side, attracted the attention of Messi, came first in the global competition in Amsterdam (Netherlands & # 39; capital) crowd, a platform for many international sporting unknown footballers. Then Messi collected two special awards in the Netherlands: the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot.

Futbol Club Barcelona: 2005- 2006 Season

The breakthrough season for the team and Messi came in 2005-06. Three Barcelona & # 39; and Spanish titles can be attributed to Messi: Domestic League, Catalunya Cup and the Spanish Super Cup begins a new period of success — Spain & # 39; s most popular TV sport club and topping the rankings of the European nations. On this occasion, Messi is piled up three individual trophies.

September 27, 2005, before a crowd of fans and spectators Barcelona & # 39; s Camp Nou stadium (the world & # 39; s major football stadiums), Messi made his debut for local young stars in the European Championship League (against Italy & # 39; s Udinese). He competed at Barca until the injury six months later. Despite the fact that the game is not Messi, but the club has acquired the famous Champions League, one of the four major international events on Earth, as well as the Olympic Games (summer and winter) and the FIFA World Cup.

The same year, the prolific scorer Messi was named Europe & # 39; s best young player by Tuttosport (the magazine Italy), getting the Golden Boy Trophy, the transfer of several athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

Interestingly, Spain is home to one of the world & # 39; and athlete's largest foreign-born (along with France, Canada and the oil-rich Kingdom Qatar) as Eulogio Martínez (Paraguay, football), Nina Zhivanevskaya (Russia, swimming), Juan Domingo de la Cruz (Argentina, basketball), Glory Alozie (athletics Nigeria) and Juan Pérez (Cuba, water polo). At the end of 2005, Messi was one of the last athletes to become a Spanish citizen (dual citizenship), which made the Spanish players play in the National League.

FIFA 2006 World Cup

Historically in Argentina the honor of being the third third world countries to accept after the global competition in Uruguay (1930 & 1950) and Brazil (1958 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002). Thanks to this tradition and thanks to its world-class players on European soil, the Argentine soccer team became one of the top favorites to gain the 2006 Football Cup, but finished sixth overall (ahead of three European squads: England, Ukraine and Spain) after losing to host Germany in the quarterfinals. Immediately, Argentina & # 39; s soccer fans blamed José Pekerman, the national coach, the defeat against Germany. Post why? Incredibly, Messi was expelled to play this game.

Of course, Messi was disappointed 2006. However, his long-awaited debut in the World Cup winner led Argentina -Two men & # 39; s World Cup (1978 & 1986) – to win the first points victory after Serbia-Montenegro (Yugoslavia). Germany and Argentina played three & # 39; and five soccer match.

The 2006 World Cup, Messi became Argentina & # 39; s most youngest footballer to take part in the FIFA Cup. The following year, his fellow Argentine Messi and players have completed the second-up in Brazil in 2007, America & # 39; s Cup Venezuelan soil.

Spain & # 39; s & # 39; Football War & # 39;

throghout the 2006-07 season, Messi became a regular player in addition to its European team, competing for the same conditions to attract a lot of senior players and fans interested. It is truly inspiring moment. However, he withdrew because of injury, the Spanish football league (the game against Real Zaragosa).

The improved health and when spending three months in South American soil, Messi returned to Spain, he played the match between Barcelona and Racing de Santander. Shortly thereafter, he made a hat-trick when the teams drew 3-3 Real Madrid, a match the two most popular teams in Spain (known as "The Clasico"). Since decades ago, these games have been labeled the "Spain & # 39; s Football War", attracted the largest average audience in many European countries and regions around the world, especially football nations. In fact, this struggle, during which Barca won & # 39; s team in recent years.

Messi & # 39; s Hand of God goal

Once he entered the 20s, in the 2007 picked up a total of 14 unique trophies within and outside Spain, a new record in his professional career. But that's not all. Recalling the style of Argentina & # 39; and former star of Maradona, Messi was named in "Messidona" an impressive career as an athlete.

during

never to be forgotten toy, April 18, 2007, the club received barcelonès two goals Messi beat Getafe CF in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey; Diego Maradona inspired a target comparison & # 39; s & # 39; Hand of God & # 39; goal against England & # 39; s team in the 1986 World Tournament in Mexico City — seemed to be Messi knocked the ball into the net with his fist. In fact, this was great news for Barcelona and throughout the country. Nobody could imagine this feat. His fellow players Deco said: "It was the best goal I've ever seen in my life."

2007-2008 campaign

over

a season, Messi was in the spotlight as he was considered to be the world & # 39; s best football player to experts, sportswriters, coaches, players, and sports administrators. Meanwhile Messi was chosen as one of the 14 best male athletes in 2007, a total of 422 Sports Journalism (International Sports Press Association) composed of 94 countries – ahead of South Africa & # 39; s rugby star Bryan Habana and Rafael Nadal, tennis player from Spain.

After a record five football world — a period of seven days– Messi goals helped Barcelona to become one of the four first-class leader in the Spanish championship. He was the reply, the lack of versatility in attack position. In fact, she sees Barcelona through the eyes of a lover. In addition, she also scored two goals in the Champions League. In early 2008, Messi celebrated his 100th match.

In March, the star athlete was forced to drop out due to injury in the Champions League. Next over a month, returned to the lineup, held from rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the number of the world & # 39; s best footballers. Under Messi & # 39; s guidance but the barcelonès club fell out of European Championships, showing the effects of his injury. Of course, Messi was not a strong performance this season, winning just two official events (Beckenbauer Cup in Germany and the Joan Gamper Trophy). In July of that year, on the other hand, Messi was appointed as the captain for the first time in a friendly match against Scotland & # 39; s Dundee United.

Subsequently, the barcelonès football club honors Messi & # 39; and perseverance: wearing the shirt number ten for the first time (historically given the leading scorer), represented by a number of former stars such as Romario Souza of Brazil, Hugo Sotil Peru and Maradona, Messi started a new period of Barca, a few weeks prior to 2008- at the summer games.

Messi for the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Argentina took the first football medal at the 1928 Amsterdam Games, after falling Uruguay & # 39; s name in the gold medal match. Then the national contingent were asked Uruguay to replace the 1976 Montreal Games, but was not adopted.

The Centennial Games in the United States, on August 3, 1996, the Argentine team's second-placed Nigeria (sub-Saharan Africa) -matched performance in 1920. The 26th Olympiad, the silver champions were Roberto Ayala, José Chamot, Javier Zanetti, Diego Pablo Simeone and Roberto Sensini, Ariel Ortega, Hernan Crespo and Claudio López, including football players. The following year, 2004, the first Spanish-speaking republics into the XXVIII Summer Games in Athens after the victory over Paraguay, a feat never achieved between a man Argentina in the men & # 39; s Olympic Football Cup.

Messi was the Latin America & # 39; s best hope for a medal at the Olympiad of 2008. Nevertheless, the troubles were sent to Beijing Messi: the club did not accept the Olympic participation. After a long-running conflict with the Spanish club and the AFA (Argentine Football Association), Messi was entitled to represent the nation at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won a second major international event followed by a convincing victory in Nigeria, one of the exceptional results of History, the Olympic championship. It was interesting to note that Messi had a great Olympic champion in the men & # 39; s Republic of China (PRC).

Unlike Pele (Edson Arantes do Nascimento) It has long been a leading player Brazil– and Maradona, Messi has won the Olympic gold medal after defeating Argentina in six countries for men & # 39; s Olympic football championship games in the Olympiad 29 in China, becoming the first world-class football player who is a trophy for the Modern Olympics since the early 1950s, when Ferenc Puskas took the Hungarian team is the first Olympic title in Finland Summer Games.

Soccer Tournment included some strong names, such as Brazil, Belgium, the Netherlands and Côte d & # 39; Ivoire.There, this Spanish-trained professional player helped Argentina win their second straight Olympic title; the nation & # 39; s fourth Olympic medal in the Men & # 39; s football. As well as the search for gold in the men & # 39; s Republic, Messi was considered one of Latin America & # 39; and above all the Olympic athletes. Nevertheless, the trophy was overshadowed by the victory of Michael Phelps, Usain Powell of Jamaica (3 Olympic gold medalist) and other champions.

2008-2009 season

Once part of the Olympic winning team in 2008, Messi has won the world & # 39; s best soccer player in FIFA (the world & # 39; s football governing body).

At the beginning of 2009, Barcelona & # 39; It was s 2-1 win over Racing de Santander is one Messi & # 39; s most notable matches, scoring both goals in the final 45 minutes. Messi came into the game, when the team was defeated (0-1), but confirmed the international status when she was able to break down the Santander defense. During the game, Spain & # 39; Messi's team has 5000 goal.

After worldwide headlines in Spanish ground was a key player when the club was a convincing 6-2 victory at Real Madrid's Santiago de Bernabu stadium in Spain & # 39; s capital city — without doubt one of the biggest game Messi & # 39; s athletic career. As is traditionally the case, this match attracted more neutral fans around the world. Messi & # 39; and there was another important result, when Barcelona & # 39; s name in the first place in the Joan Gamper Trophy official event for the third time in a row. In 2008, it came to 10 individual awards.

game speaks for itself

By the time the 2009-10 season, Messi put Barcelona sporting revolution. Surprisingly, the side won the championship. These gains, some experts believe, sportswriters, and he better than Maradona and Pele.

When claiming five prestigious competitions — the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey), the National League and the Spanish Super Cup — Messi lead Barcelona side was able to win FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), at the turn of 2009, becoming Spain & # 39; and the most popular person, and thus the Barcelona one of the world & # 39; s most successful clubs in football history. Aside from winning over the events of more than 15 individual awards in the Americas, the Persian Gulf, and Western Europe: World Football of the Year, Alfredo Di Stefano Trophy, World Selection of the best players in the Club World Cup and Champions Trophy, among other trophies.

In April 2010, one of the most interesting statistics came to Messi when he was in Barcelona & # 39; and the first soccer player to score four goals in the Champions League against Arsenal FC everyone the same way, made a name for itself in world football than his Barcelona & # 39; s top scorer in the Champions League (twenty-five goals). Later, Messi helped the club to capture the Spanish championship and the winner of two special trophies as the best player.

Spain: the best national football

Not all Messi & # 39; s piece acclaimed in 2010. Despite the optimism, the next Messi & # 39; s strong performance in Western Europe, the Argentine side was eliminated Germany (0-4), which allows you to secure a top five position in the FIFA global competition; One of Messi & # 39; Most disapponting and results during this period.

Men & # 39; Argentina's soccer team started their quest for a third Africa Global remembered. From the outset, Los Celestes entered the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as a front-runner to win the title. Before being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the South American country's four wins were: Nigeria (1-0), South Korea (4-1), Greece (2-0) and Mexico (3-1). Ironically, the Spanish team won the Global Cup for the first time.

Although one of the most outstanding athletes in this Century, Messi has not won a World Championship (2006 & 2010). In sub-Saharan Africa, production was poor: he did not obtain a single goal. So far, the results pale in comparison with Maradona and Pele.

2010-2011 szezon

2010 szeptemberében Messi & # 39; s játék magával ragadta a közönséget, a szakértők és a rajongók sportswriters, amelyben az új spanyol és az európai nyilvántartás. A harmadik egymást követő alkalommal, a sztárjátékos lett gólkirály a Bajnokok Ligájában. Hihetetlen volt. Az egész esemény, a sport & # 39; s legnagyobb futballista volt "tökéletes gép". Szorgalmazták a bálvány Messi, a Barcelonese klub halmozott fel a két verseny – az országos bajnokság, majd a Bajnokok Ligája második egymást követő évben, szikrázó ki ünnepségek a spanyol Barcelonában. Közben megszerezte a FIFA Ballon d & # 39; Or. Ezek nyer segítettek megépíteni egy kiváló kapcsolata Messi és a rajongók belül és kívül Spanyolországban. Szülőhazájában, azonban van egy másik hangulat.

America & # 39; s Cup

Argentína & # 39; s oldalon volt ideges Brazília a döntőben a 2007-es dél-amerikai kupa (ott Messi megjelent mind a hat az ő nemzet & # 39; s játékok). Négy évvel később, a hagyományos rendezvény tartottak Argentínában. Ott, a fogadó ország belépett a regionális verseny, de még csak nem is teszik a félkész. On the eve of that event, Argentina was a gold-medal contender well ahead of Brazil and Uruguay.

Unfortunately, Messi could not do anything. In spite of his extraordinary achievements in Western Europe, the amazing Latino player was unable to lead the Argentine side to win the Copa America for the second time, being strongly criticized by Argentina's football fans.

The local squad had two draws with Bolivia (1-1) and Colombia (0-0) before defeating Costa Rica (3-0) and falling to eventual champion Uruguay (4-5) in the quarter-finals. In his own land, Messi did not score a single goal (except on a penalty) over the course of the Latin American championship. Undeterred, he departed for Spain.

Undoubtedly, some soccer fans do not understand why Argentina's national team can not win international tournaments with the world's most prominent soccer player.

2011-2012 Season

Spearheaded by Messi, the Barcelonese club captured the Spanish Supercup on in August 2011. With 8 goals, Messi was the top scorer in the national contest, ahead of Raúl González Blanco. Within a few weeks, they also won the European Supercup. On December 18, 2011, Barcelona won the Club World Cup by beating Brazil's Santos (4-0). There, Messi was the tournament's most valuable athlete. Astonishingly, Messi became the top scorer (236 goals) in Barca's history on March 31, 2012.

An Advocate for the Rights of Children

Latin America's remarkable football player Messi is regarded as Argentina's long-standing advocate for the rights of poor children. By 2007, he created a self-named foundation, whose principal aim is to improve education and health care of the future generation of Argentina's boys and girls. Recently named UN Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Messi works closely with the international organization, increasing global awareness and providing financial aid to programs for children and mothers on Earth.

Source by Alejandro Guevara Onofre

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