THE HISTORY

Lionel Andres Messi Cuccittini (Rosario, June 24, 1987), also known as Leo Messi, is an Argentine footballer who plays as a striker in the Fútbol Club Barcelona and in the Argentine National Team, of which he is captain. He is often considered the best player in the world and qualified in the football field as one of the best of all time. Messi, among other awards, is the only footballer in history to have won the Ball five times Of Gold - a Golden Ball and four FIFA Ballon d'Or - obtaining the first four consecutive, and the first to receive three Gold Boots. With Barcelona he has won titles, among them, eight of La Liga and four of The UEFA Champions League, as well as four World Cup titles.

Born and raised in the city of Rosario, at age he settled in Spain, where Barcelona agreed to pay for the treatment of the hormonal disease that had been diagnosed as a child. After a rapid progression through Barcelona's Youth Academy, made his official debut with the first team at age , in October 2004. Despite being prone to injury early in his career, was established as A key player for the club In 2007, he was a finalist for the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year, an achievement he repeated in 2008. His first uninterrupted campaign was the 2008-09 season, with FC Barcelona reached the first triplet of Spanish football. At age , he won his first Golden Ball and the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Prolific goalscorer, among others, records for most goals in a season and a calendar year, top scorer in La Liga, Supercopa de España, Supercopa de Europa, Club World Cup, and non-European player with more Goals in the Champions League of the UEFA; As well as top scorer of the F.C. Barcelona and the Argentine National Team. He is the player with the most assists, since they have records, in official matches.

They followed three successful seasons, in which Messi won three FIFA Ballon d'Or, totaling four, a fact that was unprecedented. So far his best personal campaign is the 2011-12 season, in which he set the record Of more goals in a season both in La Liga and other European competitions, and became, in March 2012, the club's top scorer in official competitions. During the next two seasons, he also suffered injuries, And lost the Ballon d'Or against Cristiano Ronaldo, who is considered his rival. Messi recovered his best form during the campaign 2014-15, during which he surpassed the records of maximum goleador absolute in La Liga and the Champions League in November of 2014, and conquered with the Barcelona a historical second triplet.