If any player can be said to be the natural successor to Diego Maradona, then surely it must be Lionel Messi.
Born in Argentina in 1987, he signed for Newell’s Old Boys before being offered a place at FC Barcelona, and since that time Messi has been marked for super stardom.
Leo’s uniqueness is his stunning ability for high speed dribbling, all the time with complete mastery of the ball. Although primarily a winger, he can play more central or even deeper but, wherever he plays, with the ball at his feet, fans will expect to see some magic.
Since his first goal for FC Barcelona in May 2005 Messi has become Barça’s lucky charm – his modest attitude off the pitch and constantly praising his team mates ensuring that Barça supporters always hold him in the highest esteem – you can see him play at the Nou Camp by ordering FC Barcelona Tickets online.
Life wasn’t always easy for Messi, though, despite his prodigious talent. As a youngster, he suffered a hormonal disorder which stunted his growth – FC Barcelona helped tempt him to Spain by offering to pay for the specialist medical treatment required. This short stature, ironically, has enabled Leo to have that low centre of gravity that enables him to weave through defences.
Despite being targeted by the national squad for Spain, Messi has always been eager to represent the country of his birth – he was voted player of the tournament in the Under 20 World Cup in 2005, where he scored more goals than any other player. In the 2007 Copa America he was voted young player of the tournament. He was not afraid to let it be known how desperate he was to represent the Argentine selection in the 2008 Olympics and although Barcelona appeared reluctant at first to release him, he did help Argentina win the gold medal – creating the only goal of the final in the process.
And in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa he is showing what can be done under the managership of his idol, Diego Maradona.
