Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi |
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Personal information |
Full name | Lionel Andrés Messi |
Date of birth | 24 June 1987 (1987-06-24) (age 22) |
Place of birth | Rosario, Argentina |
Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) |
Playing position | Striker / Winger |
Club information |
Current club | Barcelona |
Number | 10 |
Youth career |
1995–2000 | Newell's Old Boys |
2000–2004 | Barcelona |
Senior career* |
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
2004–2005 | Barcelona B | 5 | (0) |
2004– | Barcelona | 144 | (88) |
National team‡ |
2005 | Argentina U20 | 7 | (6) |
2008 | Argentina U23 | 5 | (2) |
2005– | Argentina | 45 | (13) |
Honours Competitor for  Argentina |
Men's Football |
Gold | 2008 Beijing | Team Competition |
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Once he's on the run, Messi is unstoppable. He's the only player who can change direction at such a pace."
"He is the best player in the world by some distance. He's (like) a PlayStation. He can take advantage of every mistake we make."
After winning the 2009 UEFA Super Cup, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola asserted that Messi was probably the best player he had ever seen.] Messi was named winner of the 2009 Ballon d'Or on 1 December 2009, beating runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo by largest ever margin of 473 to 233.
On 19 December this year, Messi scored the winner in the final of the 2009 Club World Cup against Estudiantes in Abu Dhabi, and thus giving the club their sixth title of the year.[87] Two days later, he was given the FIFA World Player of the Year award; beating Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, Kaká and Andrés Iniesta to the award. This was the first time he had won the award, and he became the first Argentinean to ever receive this honour
2010 World Cup
Messi played the entire game on Argentina's opening match 1-0 victory against Nigeria, he had several opportunities to score but was repeatedly denied by Vincent Enyeama.
Media
He is featured on the front cover of the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 and is...