Messi was born on the 24th of June, 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province. Messi has two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, and a sister, Maria Sol. At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based  in his home town. He became part of a local youth powerhouse that lost only one match in the next four years. At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Local powerhouse River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but weren't willing to pay for treatment for his condition, which costed 900$ a month. Barcelona offered to pay Messi's bills on the condition that he move to Spain. Messi and his father duly moved to Barcelona.

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​On October 16, 2004 Frank Rijkaard gave Messi his league debut against RCD Espanyol. Messi was only 17 years old, making him the third youngest player ever to play for Barcelona. Messi said about his ex-coach Rijkaard: "I'll never forget the fact that he launched my career, that he had confidence in me when i was only sixteen." On September 16 2005, for the second time in three months, Barcelona announced an update to Messi's contract; this time it was improved to pay him as a first team member and extended until June 2014. On February 27, 2007 Messi played in his 100th official match for Barcelona against Valencia CF. Messi was nominated for a FIFPro World XI Player Award under the category of forward. A poll cunducted in the online edition of the Spanish newspaper Marca had him as the best player in the world with 77% of the vote.

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1. How long have you been involved in sports?
All my life or as long as I can remember

2. What's it like playing on a major sports team?
It was a dream of mine , so all the hard work and support made it very
special and validated the hard work and dedication that I put into
making this dream come true

3. What is your favorite part of being an athlete?
Competing and the relationships that were developed with my teammates and coaches

4. What was your favorite position to play?
Goalie I enjoyed the pressure

5. What advice would you give to an aspiring athlete?
Never give up on your dream and put the work into your sport and don't be afraid to fail you will be better for it

6. How hard did you have to work to be a major athlete?
When it is your dream, it doesn't seem like work, it is a passion something you look forward to do.looking back on it though I worked very hard. harder than anything I have ever done

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