Everything You Need To Know About Lionel Messi, The Best Soccer Player On Earth

Messi has been playing soccer since he was a little boy.

He played on a team coached by his father and was soon recruited to join the Newell's Old Boys soccer club.

However, he was noticeably smaller than the other boys his age and was eventually diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency.

His parents put him on a regiment of growth hormone injections, but it was very expensive and his parents could not afford to continue treatment.

By the time he was 13, Barcelona offered him a spot in its youth academy.

They would also pay the bills for his growth-hormone treatment, but he would have to move from Argentina to Spain so the Messi family picked up in Argentina and moved to Europe.

Messi made his official debut with FC Barcelona when he was just 17.

After moving quickly through Barcelona's C and B teams, Messi made his unofficial debut with the top team during a friendly match at the age of 16.

Messi made his official debut when he was 17, and at the age of 17 years, 10 months and seven days, he scored his first goal, becoming the youngest to ever score a goal for Barcelona (the record was recently broken by Bojan).

However, when it comes to the World Cup, Messi still plays for his home country.

Messi was granted Spanish citizenship in 2005, and many people thought he might play for Spain in the World Cup.

However, he still has a very strong connection with his home country, and decided to play for Argentina's team in the World Cup.

He currently maintains dual citizenship to both Spain and Argentina.

At 5'7," Messi's stats stand out more than he does.

Messi scored 73 goals during his 2012 European club season, breaking a 39-year-old record.

He is also the only player to ever score five goals in a single Champions League match.

He is a natural lefty, but can score with either foot.

In January, he became the first player to ever wil the Ballon d'Or for four years straight.

The Ballon d'Or is the highest honor in soccer, and in January, Messi won the award for the best male soccer player.

Soccer has made him a wealthy man.

In February he signed a contract extension for $21.2 million with Barcelona through 2018.

He earns millions more in endorsements from Adidas and other companies.

He recently starred in a Turkish Airlines commercial with Kobe Bryant.

Messi is passionate about giving back.

In 2007 he created the Fundacion Leo Messi, which has a mission to improve access to education and health care for children.

He has also donated to hospitals, both to improve facilities and to better train doctors.

He is also a UNICEF ambassador.

Messi has been dating Antonella Rouccuzzo for years. Rouccuzzo and Messi met as young children in Argentina.

The couple welcomed their first son, Thiago, into the world in November 2012.

Messi was spotted wearing an engagement ring at the Champion's League selection ceremony.

The tradition in Argentina is to wear a silver ring when you are engaged, and switch to a gold ring once you have been wed, so it looks like Messi and Rouccuzzo may be planning to tie the knot soon.

Everything You Need To Know About Lionel Messi, The Best Soccer Player On Earth

Lionel Andres Messi was born on June 24, 1987.