Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi is one of the unlikeliest soccer stars in modern history.
At 26 years old, Messi is a worldwide soccer (a.k.a, football) champion, playing as a forward on the La Liga club FC Barcelona and the captain of Argentina's national team. But at one time, Messi's potential success was almost hindered by a rare disorder.
Messi was born Luis Lionel Andres Messi in Rosario, Argentina. As a child, he was instantly drawn to soccer, and would tag along when his two older brothers played. He already showed promise, so at age eight, he was recruited to join the youth system of Newell's Old Boys, a club in Rosario, according to Biography.com. Yet, Messi was much smaller than the rest of the boys in the group. It was eventually discovered that Messi suffered from a hormone deficiency that restricted his growth. His parents, Jorge and Cecilia, decided to give him nightly growth-hormone injections. However, the medication was hundreds of dollars per month, and the cost was simply too expensive for the family.
Then at age 13, despite Messi's condition, he was offered the chance to train at famous FC Barcelona soccer academy, La Masia, where he would have his medical bills covered by the team. Messi's family therefore relocated to Spain.
Although Messi was often homesick for Argentina, Messi moved up through the ranks quickly, and at the young age of 16, he made his first appearance playing for the FC Barcelona team. He earned a spot in the record books when on May 1, 2005 he became the youngest player to ever score a goal on the soccer team. In that same year, Messi went back to his native country and led Argentina to the under-20 World Cup.
Messi eventually grew to 5 ft., 7 inches with help from the medication. Messi's speed and pro techniques led Barcelona to soccer success. In 2009, Messi led the team to the Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup titles. In 2009, he also earned his first FIFA "World Player of the Year" honor/Ballon d'Or award.
"Every time I start a year, I start with the objective of trying to achieve everything, without comparing it to how I've done in other seasons," Messi has stated, according to Biography.
Messi continues to impress. He led Barcelona to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup championships in 2010 and 2011, as well as the '11 Champions League title.
In 2012, Messi became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League match, and also surpassed Cesar Rodriguez's club-record 232 goals, becoming Barcelona's leading scorer of all time. He broke another record when he was named the FIFA Ballon d'Or winner for the fourth time in January 2013.
He now earns a base salary of $21 million per year through 2018, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.
Although Messi is a spokesperson for many sports brands, he is known for being reserved off the field.
He is also a philanthropist. Messi formed the Leo Messi Foundation in 2007 to provide opportunities to underprivileged youth. He was also named a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in 2010. He focuses on improving children's rights and opportunities around the world.
In 2012, Messi became a father to a child of his own. In November 2012, his girlfriend, Antonella Roccuzzo, gave birth to their son, Thiago.
Many have drawn comparisons between Messi another famous retired Argentinian footballer, Diego Maradona. Maradona has welcomed the comparisons.
"I see him as very similar to me," Maradona 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."