APTER The Early Years occer is in Argentina's roots and it is the country s most beloved sport Most Argentines play soccer from a young age and many dream of becoming a big league soccer player Born on June 24 1987 Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccitini nicknamed Leo was no exception Located on the west bank of the Paraná River in Argentina Rosario is the country s third largest city as well as the hometown of Lionel Messi a 0
The Early years As a young child Leo grew up in the river port city of Rosario Argentina's third largest city Leo's father Jorge Horacio Messi was a steelworker His mother Celia Maria Cuccittini worked part time as a cleaner Both parents were of Italian origin as is a good portion of the population of Argentina Leo was the Messis third child after older broth ers Rodrigo and Matias His younger sister Maria Sol was born when Leo was eight years old Fancy Footwork at a young age Like many Argentine children the Messi boys looked up to Diego Maradona Maradona was a superstar of Argentine soccer In the quar terfinal of the 1986 World Cup he scored the famous Hand of God goal he illegally hit the ball with his hand but the referee mistakenly thought he had used his head which is allowed After scoring another spectacular goal four minutes later Argentina won the match MINNESCO Argentine soccer a superstar Diego a Maradona is shown 23 here celebrating his country s victory at the 1986 World Cup Maradona is considered a hero by many F Argentine fans of soccer and an inspiration for amateur soccer players 2 SYS SYTH OPI
LIONEL MESSI SOCCER S TOP SCORER Leo started playing soccer at the QUICK FACT age of five He would follow his brothers to the pitch where Grandoli the local His first big fan Leo s grand soccer club played At first Leo would mother later passed away when I kick soccer balls against a wall and he was only ten years old To this I imitate the moves of the older boys day every time Leo scores a goal I However eventually some of the coaches he points to the sky in a salute to noticed his flair and effectiveness They his grandmother asked him why he didn't join in with the I older boys despite his smaller size Leo didn t shy away from the chal lenge This was in part due to his grandmother s encouragement She would convince the coaches to play Leo who was small even for his young age against the biggest of the boys By age eight Leo had joined the youth team of Newell s Old Boys a Rosario based top division soccer club There he started to show the Estadio Marcelo A Bielsa in Rosario Argentina is the home of the Newell's Old Boys soccer club where Messi began playing in the youth division at age eight TENVENIDO ALA CASADEL CAMPEON CLUB ATLETICO NEWELLS OLD BOYS PLATEAS SECTOR A BC DEF G
The Early years phenomenal skills that made him a handful for any opposing team The masterly way he worked the ball with either foot his strength and his playmaking all made him a key player Leo already showed many signs of the Messi that is well known today Finding His Way Off the Field While he excelled as a soccer player Messi recalls feeling at home and comfortable only on the soccer pitch He was shy to the point of being almost entirely silent At school he would have his friends raise their hands to ask questions for him He didn't show much interest in activities other than soccer For example he did not read much and as an adult he admits that he has read very few books cover to cover Family friends and fútbol soccer in Spanish seemed to be his main interests As well as food As an adult Messi says he is encouraged to excel at soccer out of his desire to challenge himself and improve at the sport However as a child sweet treats were leo's incentive especially his favorite alfajores Alfajores are a sugary Argentine cookie Once his coach promised him one alfajor for each QUICK FACT goal that he scored Leo remembers scoring five or six goals after that Messi s Newell s Old Boys youth promise team was nicknamed La Despite his quiet personality off Maquina del 87 or The the pitch Leo was dazzling his coun Machine of 87 This was try He was the best player on La because Leo and his teammates Máquina del 87 the youth section of I were born in 1987 and their Newell s Old Boys soccer club that athletic prowess made them won four championships in six years nothing less than a machine Big clubs nationwide were already starting to pay attention to him Leo's father managed his blooming
