Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is an Argentine football sensation who currently plays second striker or attacking midfielder for FC Barcelona and the Argentina national football team. Messi began playing football at the age of five. At 11 he was diagnosed with a hormone deficiency but was unable to afford treatment due to his humble beginnings. Carles Rexach, sporting director of FC Barcelona, offered to pay his medical bills if the family moved to Spain and enrolled Messi in their football program. The family agreed, putting him into FC Barcelona's youth teams and on the path to football fame.

Lionel Messi is often referred to as "the new Diego Maradona" due to his impressive skill or "The Flea" as a result of his slender frame. In 2004, he earned a spot on FC Barcelona's B squad and became the third youngest player to represent the club in a match; in May of that year he became the youngest to score. A year later he was awarded the Golden Boy 2005 title for the best U-21 player in Europe. He was also part of the 2005 U-20 team that placed first in Football World Youth Championship in Netherlands, picking up the Golden Boot as top scorer and the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament. FC Barcelona has renewed Messi's contract through 2014.