Newell`s Old Boys.

From the age of 11, he suffered from a hormone deficiency and as Lionel`s parents were unable to pay for the treatme Argentina, they decided to move to Barcelona, Spain.

In the 2003-2004 season, when he was still only 16, Messi made his first team debut in a friendly with Porto that marked the opening of t Dragao stadium. The following championship-winning season, Messi made his first appearance in an official match on October 16, 2004, in Barcelona`s derby win against Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium (0-1).

With several first team players seriously injured, the services of several reserve team players were called upon, and Messi became a regula feature of Bara squads. On May 1, 2005, he became the youngest player ever to score a league goal for FC Barcelona - against Albacete w Messi was only 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old.

He was offered the chance to play for the Spain national football team, but declined, prefering to wait for the opportunity to play for the co of his birth. In June 2004 he got his chance, playing in a U-20 friendly match against Paraguay. Lionel Messi wearing FC Barcelona`s colorsIn June 2005 he starred for the Argentina U-20 team that won the Football World Youth Champ played in The Netherlands. Messi picked up the Golden Boot as top scorer with 6 goals, and the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament. Despite his youth, Lionel has already drawn comparisons with Diego Maradona, arguably the best football player of all time.

On September 25, 2005 Messi obtained a Spanish citizenship and was finally able to make his debut in this season`s Spanish First Division had previously been unable to play because FC Barcelona had filled up all of their quota of non-EU players.

Messi`s first outing in the UEFA Champions League at the Nou Camp was on Sept 28 against Italian club Udinese. He impressed with some passing and a seemingly telepathic relationship with Ronaldinho that earned him a standing ovation from the 70,000-odd Nou Camp faithfu December of that year, the Italian newspaper Tuttosport awarded him the Golden Boy 2005 title for the best under-21 player in Europe, ov Wayne Rooney and Lukas Podolski In September 2005, Messi was given an improved and extended contract until 2014.

Messi built on his international reputation in the 2005/2006 season for Barcelona and earned himself rave reviews, most notably from Arge superstar Diego Maradona who said that Messi was Maradonas successor. Lofty praise indeed for a player barely 18 years of age.

A thigh injury late in the 2005/2006 season almost ruined Messis chances of representing Argentina at the 2006 World Cup in Germany bu Jose Pekerman took a chance on him and he made several substitute appearances culminating in becoming the youngest player ever to represent Argentina at a World Cup and even bagging a goal in the 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro.

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