Lionel Messi, one of the best footballers across the world has turned 34 today. Messi has scored 73 international goals in 147 matches and is Argentina’s all-time highest goalscorer.
Luis Lionel Andres Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. He comes from a humble background. At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. His parents were unable to afford medication and treatment that cost $900 per month.
Messi could undergo treatment only after he signed a contract with Football Club Barcelona. He moved to Spain and the football club paid for his treatment.
Looking into his love life, Lionel Messi has a sweet little happy family. Messi is happily married to Antonella Roccuzzo and is blessed with three sons- Thiago Messi, Ciro Messi and Mateo Messi.
Though there has always been a global debate on who is better- Messi or Ronaldo, no football fan can deny the fact that Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time. On his 34th birthday, let’s look at some lesser-known facts about the football star- Lionel Messi.
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- Starting with his early life, Messi’s father Jorge Messi was a steelworker and coached the local youth football team.
- Messi is being coached by his father in the early days when he joined the local club Grandoli at the age of four.
- One of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi’s first contract with Barcelona was detailed out on a paper napkin.
- Barcelona was impressed with Messi’s skills that they paid his medical bills and move his family to Spain just to sign him when he was 13 years old.
- He is one of the richest footballers across the world with a net worth of $126 million.
- Messi’s No. 10 Barca jersey is inherited from another great football player Ronaldinho in the summer of 2008.
- Messi was once offered a place in Spain’s National Team, but he declined it.
- Messi scored 200 goals in Spanish La Liga at the age of 25. This made him the youngest player to achieve such.