RAGS to RICHES : LIONEL MESSI

Profile :

Full name : Luis Lionel Andrés Messi                         
Birthday : June 24, 1987 (Rosario, Argentina)
Nationality : Argentinian
Other nationality : Spanish
EU passport : Yes
Height : 169 cm
Weight : 67 kg
Club : FC Barcelona
Position : Forward

Early Life:

Messi was born on 24 June 1987 at the Hospital Italiano Garibaldi in Rosario, Santa Fe, to parents Jorge Horacio Messi (born 1958), a factory worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. His paternal family originates from the Italian city of Ancona, where his ancestor, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883. He has two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matías as well as a sister named 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 city Rosario. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.Primera División club River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for treatment for his condition as it cost $900 a month.

Turnaround : 

Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, had been made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida, Catalonia, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial. Barcelona signed him after watching him play,offering to pay for the medical bills if he was willing to move to Spain. His family moved to Europe and he started in the club's youth teams.

Achivements : 

FC Barcelona Awards :

- Spanish League (3): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09
- Spanish Cup: (1) 2008–09
- Spanish Supercup (3): 2005, 2006, 2009
- UEFA Champions League (2): 2005–06, 2008–09
- UEFA Super Cup (1): 2009
- FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2009

International Awards

- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2005
- Olympic Gold Medal: 2008

Individual Awards

- FIFA U-20 World Cup Top Scorer: 2005
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Tournament: 2005
- Copa América Young Player of the Tournament: 2007
- U-21 European Footballer of the Year: 2007
- Player of the Year of Argentina: 2005, 2007, 2009
- FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year: 2006–2007, 2007–2008
- FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 2005–2006, 2006–2007, 2007–2008
- World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2005–2006, 2006–2007, 2007–2008
- Premio Don Balón (Best Foreign Player in La Liga): 2006–2007, 2008–2009
- EFE Trophy (Best Ibero-American Player in La Liga): 2006–2007, 2008–2009
- FIFPro World XI: 2006–2007, 2007–2008, 2008–2009
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2007–2008, 2008–2009
- FIFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009
- UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 2008–2009
- Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2008–2009
- UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2008–2009
- UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2008–2009
- LFP Best Player: 2008–2009
- LFP Best Striker: 2008–2009
- Onze d'Or: 2009
- Ballon d'Or: 2009
- World Soccer Player of the Year: 2009
- FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2009
- Toyota Award: 2009
- FIFA World Player of the Year: 2009
- FIFPro World Player of the Year: 2008–09

Experts Quotes on Messi : 

Juan Sebastian Veron
“I see Maradona every time he grabs the ball and accelerates. We must protect him. I’d personally put him in a drawer of my bedside table.”

Jose Mourinho
“The best way to stop Messi is when you play with 11 men and then you can double mark him, one player to stay on him and the other to help out. If it is 11 against 10 then you have almost no chance of stopping him.”

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
“Nobody was so wonderful at 19 years, neither Pele nor Maradona.”

Ronaldinho
“Every time he plays, Leo Messi reminds me more of Maradona, both left-footed and short, Messi is the best player in the world, along with Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo. For us it is not a surprise. Since he began to come and train with us and we knew we would go down this path. Someday I will explain that I was at the birth of one of the footballing greats: Leo Messi.”

Diego Maradona
“I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius and he can become an even better player.”
“His potential is limitless and I think he’s got everything it takes to become Argentina’s greatest player.”
“Messi I think is like me, he is the best in the world along with Ronaldinho.”

Arsene Wenger

“He’s like a PlayStation”

 Lessons :
Despite of suffering from growth hormone deficiency Lionel Messi always took it as an opportunity and not as his weakness, slowly and gradually made his short height and light weight  as his strength by focusing on his skills rather than cribbing about his physique which has made him one of the Best Players of All times .

Sources : www.lionel-messi.co.uk (offical website), Wikipedia