LIONEL MESSI: THE G.O.A.T
Lionel Andres Messi, also known as La Pulga, is considered arguably the greatest footballer the world has ever seen. From playmaking to goal scoring, this little magician does it all. In this article, we will tell you the story of the best footballer in the world.
THE BEGINNING
Lionel Messi was born in Argentina. He had a natural gift of playing football. At a very young age, he started impressing the local coaches. It was his grandma that urged a local team to let him play. This was the moment Messi captured the eyes of different scouts. He was absolutely sensational with the ball, dribbling every player coming his way. Soon international clubs started to notice the phenomenon of this young sensation.
LIONEL MESSI AND HGH
Lionel Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone disorder. It hinders the growth of the body. But his footballing talent was too valuable. So, FC Barcelona decided to take a huge leap of faith. They decided to sponsor the treatment of Leo Messi. Messi was treated. The iconic player was injected with growth hormones in his leg each night when he was just 12 years old. Despite all odds, he was signed by FC Barcelona at the age of 13.
TIME AT FC BARCELONA
Lionel Messi made his professional first team debut at the age of just 16 years. He was subbed on against Porto, being managed by Joseph Mourinho. He had a good debut but he was unable to mark his name on the score sheet. Messi won his first of the five Champions Leagues during 2005-06 season. At that moment, he had cemented his place in the starting eleven alongside Ronaldinho and Eto’o. Messi scored his first hat-trick against Real Madrid. He was just a teenager. It was enough to show that he is something else. Messi achieved everything possible with FC Barcelona. He also won numerous individual titles. In 2018, he was named the first captain of the team. He captained his team to many domestic titles but was unable to win the Champions league as a captain. He last won the Champions league in 2015 with FC Barcelona. Messi won 5 Champions League and 10 league titles with FC Barcelona.
Even though Messi felt like Barcelona was his home, the relationship began to crumble after 2018/19 season. Messi was so mad at the management that he decided to leave the club after their first trophy-less season in decades. He sent the board a fax stating that he wanted to leave the club but they denied his request. Messi decided to play until the last year of his contract. He scored 672 goals and assisted 266 times for his beloved club. He will always be a huge part of the great history of FC Barcelona.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAN
After cutting ties with FC Barcelona, star forward Lionel Andres Messi joined French giants Paris Saint-German on a two year deal. There, he formed the most fearsome attacking trio lining up with Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe.
Messi celebrating with Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe. (https://assets.goal.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2c3b83419cda7f82/63584ad567511b06cc771d0a/psg-16-9.jpg)
In his first season, he played 35 matches, scoring just 12 and assisting 19 goals. He didn’t live up to the expectations of the club fans. He was said to be finished. But in the current 2022/23 season, he has already scored 11 goals in just 18 games. He is back in his form. The fans are really happy for him. With his attacking partners, he is really terrorizing every team he is facing. He also won the league titles with PSG but was unable to help them in swinning Champions League. The club lost to Real Madrid in the round of 16 of Champions League after the Spanish giants made an insane comeback.
The season is still going on and the form of Messi just keeps improving. Everyone believes that PSG has what it takes to win the Champions League this season.
ARGENTINA
Even though Messi was considered a god in FC Barcelona, his time with his national team was never as good as it was at the club. He used to continuously face humiliation with the national side.
` Messi debuted for the national team on Aug 7, 2008. Since then, he has played 167 games for his motherland. He has scored 93 goals and assisted 53 times.
Lionel Messis’s first major tournament with the national side was the World Cup 2006. He scored and assisted once in the whole tournament. Argentina was knocked out by Germany on penalties in the Quarter-Finals. After that, Copa America 2007 came. Messi scored twice and assisted once in that cup. His team came second after losing the final to Brazil. This was shattering for the little magician. The 2010 World Cup side was being managed by the great Diego Maradona. With him as a coach, and Messi,an integral part of the team, everybody believed in Argentina. But they were once again knocked out by Germany in the Quarter-Finals. Messi was unable to perform well in the whole tournament. They also lost the Copa America 2011 to Uruguay on penalties.
Then came the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil. Argentina played well throughout the tournament. Messi was at the peak of his abilities for his national side. Argentina reached the final of this World cup. Their rivals were once again, you guessed it, Germany. And you guessed it again, they lost it. Although Messi won the Best player of the tournament, it was just heartbreaking for the greatest player of all time.
After the World Cup 2014 Final, the team reached two more finals consecutively. They lost both of them too. This was the end. Messi announced his retirement from the national side. He said it was just not for him. Although declaring retirement, he came back for the national team and participated in the 2018 World Cup held in Russia. They were knocked out by France in the round of 16.
They also lost the Copa America 2019. But then the Copa America 2021 came. This Argentina side was as good as it could be. With Messi as the leader, they went on to win the Copa America and Lionel Messi’s dream of winning a trophy with the national side was achieved. It was biblical.
Messi with the Copa America 2021 trophy (https://assets.goal.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/bltd0ff1f86069ae0dd/60ea90b05dfe4038a8651469/1f0cb8caa6c42eacf74a24987b0b634e7cbdeb12.jpg)_
Now, Messi is playing the 2022 World Cup and every fan of football believes that this time the greatest player of all times is going to win it for his country.
BALLON D’ORs
Lionel Messi has won 7 Ballon D’ors in total naking him the player with the most Bllon D’ors in the history of the sport. Thus ending the G.O.A.T debate of Football.
