Lionel Messi (Introduction)

Lionel Messi
(Lionel Andrés Messi, Rosario, Santa Fe, 1987) Argentinian footballer. Possessing exceptional technical skill, a blistering pace and an inexhaustible inventiveness, since it came from the hands of their parents FC Barcelona, ​​13 years old, made a dizzying race to the different categories to the first team, which debuted with just 16 in a friendly match against Porto. In 2004, at 17, he played his first official match of the Spanish League. At 18 he got his international recognition: he was part of the Argentina team, champion at the World Youth U-20 Dutch Championship in 2005.

But its real explosion occurred with the arrival of Pep Guardiola the Barca bench: during the four seasons that led the team coach (2008-2012), his goalscoring statistics reached stratospheric levels, contributing decisively to Barca lived the best stage in its history by taking 14 titles out of 18 possible. Almost unanimously considered the best player of the moment, their individual talent has been recognized for four consecutive years with the Golden Ball (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012).