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| Lionel Messi at the Ballon D'or 2012 |
Its no more news that the Ballon D'or 2012 was awarded to the talented Striker of Barcelona from Argentina who has broken another record of 4 consecutive Player of the year. Read on as we Review Secrets and facts about Merciless Messi as he is usually called, its left for you to either criticise or Praise the talent Genius
QUICK FACTS
NAME:
Luis Lionel Andres Messi
OCCUPATION: Soccer Player
BIRTH DATE: June 24, 1987 (Age: 25)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Rosario, Argentina
ZODIAC SIGN: Cancer
BEST KNOWN FOR:
Lionel Messi is a soccer player who has led Barcelona to Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Club titles.
SYNOPSIS:
In 2005, Lionel Messi led Argentina to the title in the under-20 World Cup, scoring on a pair of penalty kicks to propel the team over Nigeria. In recent years, Messi has become one of the game's highest paid players, earning an estimated $18 million a year. In 2009, he steered Barcelona to Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Club titles and took home the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
GOALS
PROFILE:
PROFILE:
Professional soccer player. Born Luis Lionel Andres Messi on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. Messi, who stands just 5-foot 7-inches, got his start in the game at the age of 8, when he started playing for the Newell's Old Boys, a team in Rosario. So obvious he looked smaller than most of the boys he played with, Messi was eventually diagnosed by doctors as suffering from a hormone deficiency that restricted his growth.
Medication wasn't cheap which was about 500 a month, and Messi's parents couldn't afford to pay for it on their own. So, at the age of 13, when Messi was offered a chance to play for Barcelona with the opportunity to have his medical bills covered by the team, Messi's family picked up and moved across the Atlantic to make a new home in Spain.
Short and fast with a fierce style of play, Messi soon drew comparisons to another famous Argentine footballer (Diego Maradona). Messi moved quickly through the ranks of the team's junior system, and by the age of 16 Messi had made his first appearance for Barcelona. He put himself in the record books on May 1, 2005, as the youngest player to ever score a goal for the franchise. That same year he led Argentina to the title in the under-20 World Cup, scoring on a pair of penalty kicks to propel the team over Nigeria.
In recent years Messi has become one of the game's highest paid players, earning an estimated $18 million a year. He's justified the price-tag by steering Barcelona to a wealth of success, most notably in 2009 when the left-footer's team captured the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Club titles. That same year, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, he took home the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Even the great Maradona has gushed about his fellow countryman.
"I see him as very similar to me," the retired player told the BBC. "He's a leader and is offering lessons in beautiful football. He has something different to any other player in the world."
OFF THE FIELD:
Messi, who got his EU citizenship in 2009, has tried to make a name for himself. In early 2010, he was named a Goodwill Ambassador by UNICEF with a focus on fighting for children's rights across the globe.
OUT OF THIS WORLD
RECORD BREAKING:
RECORD BREAKING:
Lionel Messi is the first player to win four successive Ballon d'Or awards today, sealing his status as the greatest player of his generation.
The 25-year-old was the overwhelming favourite to see off the challenge of Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta and great Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo for the prize.
It has crowned another landmark year for the Argentine who is the top scorer in La Liga this season with 25 goals having also broken Gerd Mueller's 40-year record for the most goals in a calendar year.
He finished 2012 with an astonishing 91 goals in all competitions.
But Messi has insisted that his scoring records will mean nothing if Barcelona do not go on to take La Liga title off Real or fail to win the Champions League.
"It's nice to beat records but the win for the team is what is important. My goals are to win titles with the team, the Spanish league, Spanish Cup or Champions League is more important than any personal records."
He remained just as modest before he was awarded in Zurich yesterday.
"If Iniesta wins, it will be well-deserved for all that he has done, for the way he plays. Again, it will also be a prize for the dressing room."
Messi and former French star, Uefa president Michel Platini, are the only players to win three straight Ballon d'Or awards.
Barca coach Tito Vilanova had no doubt that Messi will be a deserving winner.
"Leo's great quality is that he plays as if he still a child," said Vilanova.
Portugal captain Ronaldo admitted he would loved to have won it but its not the end of the world for him.
His words "If I win, perfect. If I don't, never mind, life goes on. But obviously I'd love to win. I'm not going to lie or be hypocritical," said the 2008 Ballon d'Or winner added.
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