Born in Rosario, Argentina on 24 June 1987, Messi grew up playing soccer by tagging along with his two elder brothers and going up against players much bigger his size. At age 11 it was apparent that Leo was shorter than most of his peers at the same age and after the diagnosis, the doctors concluded that he suffered from 'Growth Hormone Deficiency'. Two years later he would relocate from Argentina to Spain, as FC Barcelona agreed to pay for his medical treatment. On May 1 2005, he redeemed the trust of Barcelona by becoming the youngest player ever to score a goal for the franchise. In the same year, as an 18-year teenager, he led Argentina to U-20 World Cup Title. In 2008 he became the youngest athlete to be nominated as FIFA PLAYER OF THE YEAR. Unfortunately, he would not win it that year, but the next year and for the next 3 years, he won a record-breaking 4 times. Unaffected by the fame, Leo is known to live a quiet and private life off the field and help others in need. He established 'Leo Messi Foundation' to improve education and health care for children. In 2014, he would go on to win the Golden Ball award for the best player in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Messi's classic celebration of pointing skywards is a tribute to his grandmother, who passed away in 1998. It was she who encouraged a young Leo to play football, and thankfully so...
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