• Lionel Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency as a child, which almost prevented him from pursuing a professional football career.
• He joined FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, at just 13 years old, where the club agreed to pay for his medical treatment.
• Messi holds the record for the most goals scored in a calendar year, netting 91 goals in 2012.
• He is the only player to have won the FIFA Ballon d’Or award seven times (as of 2021).
• Messi has scored over 700 career goals, a feat achieved by only a handful of players in history.
• He has a unique playing style characterized by his low center of gravity, allowing him to change direction quickly and evade defenders.
• Messi is also known for his incredible playmaking ability, with thousands of assists to his name throughout his career.
• He has won numerous domestic and international titles, including multiple UEFA Champions League and La Liga championships.
• Despite his fame, Messi is known for his humble nature and philanthropic efforts, including establishing the Leo Messi Foundation to support access to education and health care for vulnerable children.
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• In 2021, Messi made a high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after spending his entire professional career at FC Barcelona.
