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Early Life

Luis Lionel Andres Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. His parents are Jorge Horacio Messi and Celia María Cuccittini. He has two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matías, and one sister named María Sol. Messi began playing when he was 5 years old in a league in Rosario and his father was the coach. Messi was always smaller than the others he played soccer with and was diagnosed with a hormone deficiency at age 11. Messi's father knew his son had a special talent and could benefit from supplements of growth hormones, but they did not have enough money to pay for it. Messi and his father moved to Barcelona hoping to extend Messi's soccer career. (120)

Messi On The Rise

Messi played for Barcelona's junior teams and scored 37 goals in just 30 games. His talent was being revealed to club cooaches from around the world. They came to watch him at a young age. At sixteen Messi made an apperance on FC Barcelona's team. He was the third youngest player and started in his opening game in a friendly match against Porto on November 16, 2003.

Barcelona