One of the greatest players in the last decade, Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football today. We give you a list on interesting and fun facts and records about Argentina's star striker
Lionel Messi
One of the greatest players in the last decade, Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football today. We give you a list on interesting and fun facts about Argentina's star striker.
>> Messi announced his retirement from international soccer just 3 days after his 29th birthday.
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>> At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.
>> Messi shares his birthplace with famous revolutionary leader Che Guevara. They were both born in Rosario, Argentina.
>> Messi's first football contract was actually penned down on paper napkins. FC Barcelona's sports chief Carles Rexach was impressed with the Argentine's talent, that made a contract on the spot with no official paper being available.
>> He is the only soccer player to have won the Ballon d’Or a record five times: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
>> Messi holds two passports - Argentina and Spain. He was declared a Spanish citizen in 2005.
>> Messi is Argentina's all-time leading goal scorer with 55 goals to his name.
>> He became the youngest player to play for Argentina in a FIFA World Cup when he made his debut in 2006 at 18 years and 357 days.
>> Upon Ronaldinho’s departure from the club Barcelona, Messi inherited his number 10 jersey in 2008.
>> He was nicknamed 'The Messiah' by Spanish media in 2008 after he was Barcelona's new star player at age 20.
>> Messi is an Ambassador of Goodwill for UNICEF. His foundation - 'Leo Messi Foundation' - supports various charities.
>> At age 25, he became the youngest footballer to score 200 goals in La Liga.
>> He has the record for scoriing the most goals in La Liga history (312 goals).
>> He is the top goal scorer in FC Barcelona's history (453 goals)
>> He also has the Guinness World Record for most goals scored in a year. (91 goals in 2012)
(All Pics/ AFP)
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