LIONEL MESSI BIOGRAPHYLionel Messi is an Argentinian footballer widely regarded as the one of the greatest players of the modern generation. He plays for FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He has won FIFA world player of the year four times (a record already). He has often been described as Diego Maradonas successor because of his prolific goal scoring record and ability to dribble past opponents.Lionel Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, to parents Jorge Horacio Messi, a factory worker, and Celia Mara Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. He has two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matas as well as a sister named Maria Sol. At the age of five, Messi started playing football. However, at the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). This was a condition that stunted growth, and required expensive medical treatment, including the use of the drug Human growth hormone. Primera Divisin club River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for the treatment, as it cost $900 a month. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of 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.Lionel Messi has no limits, he marked a new milestone in football. The Argentine won his fourth Golden Ball consecutively (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012), and became the only player in history to have achieved this feat.Barcelona Spanish La Liga title (*6): 200405, 200506, 200809, 200910, 201011, 201213 Spanish cup (*2)- Copa del Rey: 200809, 201112; Runner-up 201011 Supercopa de Espaa (*6): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013; Runner-up 2012 UEFA Champions League (*3): 200506, 200809, 201011 UEFA Super Cup (*2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006 FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011 ArgentinaMessi has frequently been the target of other football clubs with big transfer budgets, but he has remained loyal to Barcelona FC. He is one of the highest paid footballers in the world. His base salary is estimated at 16 million net a year, until 2018. His net wealth is estimated at 110m.Private life, Messi has a relatively private and modest lifestyle. He makes efforts to keep links to his hometown of Rosario. He has an Argentinian girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo, and they have one child Thiago, born in November 2012.Messi acts as an ambassador for Unicef, and also runs his own charitable foundation supporting access to education and sport for children. Because of his own expensive medical treatment, he has also helped Argentinian hospitals with paying for similar treatment to his own.Lionel Messi es un futbolista argentino ampliamente considerado como el uno de los jugadores ms grandes de la generacin moderna. l juega para el FC Barcelona y la seleccin de Argentina. Ha ganado Jugador Mundial de la FIFA en cuatro ocasiones (un rcord ya). A menudo ha sido descrita como el sucesor de Diego Maradona por su rcord de puntuacin objetivo prolfico y habilidad para driblar oponentes anteriores.Lionel Messi naci el 24 de junio de 1987 en Rosario, Argentina, de padres Jorge Horacio Messi, un trabajador de la fbrica, y Celia Mara Cuccittini, un limpiador de medio tiempo. l tiene dos hermanos mayores llamados Rodrigo y Matas, as como a una hermana llamada Mara Sol. A la edad de cinco aos, Messi comenz a jugar al ftbol. Sin embargo, a la edad de 11, Messi fue diagnosticada con deficiencia de hormona de crecimiento (GHD). Esta fue una condicin que atrofiado crecimiento, y requiere tratamiento mdico caro, incluyendo el uso de la hormona humana del crecimiento de drogas. Primera Divisin del club River Plate mostr inters en el progreso de Messi, pero no tienen suficiente dinero para pagar el tratamiento, ya que cuesta $ 900 al mes. Carles Rexach, el director deportivo del Barcelona, se haba hecho consciente de su talento como Messi tena parientes en Lrida, Catalua, y Messi y su padre fueron capaces de organizar un juicio. De Barcelona lo fich despus de verlo jugar, ofrecindose a pagar por los gastos mdicos si estaba dispuesto a trasladarse a Espaa. Su familia se traslad a Europa y que se inici en las categoras inferiores del club.Lionel Messi no tiene lmites, marc un nuevo hito en el ftbol. El argentino gan su cuarto Baln de Oro de forma consecutiva (2009, 2010, 2011 y 2012), y se convirti en el nico jugador en la historia en haber logrado esta hazaa.Barcelona Espaol ttulo de Liga (* 6): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13 Copa espaola (* 2) - Copa del Rey: 2008-09, 2011-12; Subcampen 2010-11 Supercopa de Espaa (* 6): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013; Subcampen 2012 UEFA Champions League (* 3): 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11 Supercopa de la UEFA (* 2): 2009, 2011; Subcampen 2006 Copa Mundial de Clubes (2): 2009, 2011 ArgentinaMessi ha sido con frecuencia el blanco de otros clubes de ftbol con presupuestos de transferencia de grandes, pero se ha mantenido fiel al FC Barcelona. l es uno de los futbolistas mejor pagados del mundo. Su salario base se estima en 16 millones de al ao netos, hasta el ao 2018. Su patrimonio neto se estima en 110 millones.Vida privadaSegn las normas del ftbol moderno, Messi tiene un estilo de vida relativamente privado y modesto. l hace esfuerzos por mantener vnculos con su ciudad natal de Rosario. l tiene una novia argentina Antonella Roccuzzo, y tienen un hijo Thiago, nacido en noviembre de 2012.Messi acta como embajador de Unicef, y tambin dirige su propia fundacin caritativa apoyar el acceso a la educacin y el deporte para los nios. A causa de su propio tratamiento mdico costoso, tambin ha ayudado a los hospitales argentinos con el pago de un tratamiento similar a la suya.