Profile:
Full name: Luis Lionel Andrés Messi
Birthday: June 24, 1987
Birthplace: Rosario , Argentina
Nationality: Argentinian
Other nationality: Spanish
Height: 169 cm
Weight: 67 kg
Club: FC Barcelona
Position: Forward
Debut: 17 November 2003
Lionel Andrés Messi, who was born June 24, 1987 in Rosario, is an Argentinian football (soccer) player.
Lionel Messi started playing football at a very early age in his hometown’s Newell’s Old Boys.
When he was 11, his parents decided to move to Barcelona , Spain .
In the 2003-2004 season, when he was still only 16, Messi made his first team debut in a friendly game with Porto . The following championship-winning season, Messi made his first appearance in an official match on October 16, 2004, in Barcelona ‘s derby win Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium (0-1). He was offered the chance to play for the Spain national football team, but declined. In June 2004 he got his chance, playing in a U-20 friendly match against Paraguay .
June 2005 he started for the Argentina U-20 team that won the Football World Championship played in The Netherlands . Messi picked up the Golden Boot as top scorer with 6 goals, and the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament.
In September 2005, Messi was given an improved and extended contract until 2014
