Lionel Andrés Messi has been named the FIFA World Player of the Year. The Argentina and Barcelona striker won the award for the first time for helping his Spain club win an record six trophies, including the Champions League and the La Liga title.
The 22-year-old beat last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazil midfielder Kaka, and his two club mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez. He was presented with the trophy at an awards ceremony in Zurich.
Messi said, “I'm really happy. We've just ended a historic year, a perfect year in which we've won every competition we've played in. We just needed to take this last step and everything has worked out how we wanted. It's amazing.”
Lionel Messi was born 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, to parents Jorge Messi. His paternal family originates from the Italian city of Ancona where his ancestor, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883.
At the age of 8, Messi played to Newell's Old Boys who were based in Rosario. But at the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Primera División club River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for the treatment. The life of Messi changed 180 degrees when Barcelona discovered his talent. The Spanish giant club signed him and paying his medical treatment bills. Then Messi and his family moved to Spain.
Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona On 18 September, running until 2016, making Messi the highest paid players in La Liga with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, his team-mate.
His international debut with Argentine senior national team occured on August 2005 against Hungary at 18 years of age. But the injury has harmed his presence in the World Cup 2006. He witnessed Argentina's opening match victory against Ivory Coast from the substitute's bench. And in the next match against Serbia, Messi became the youngest player to represent Argentina at a World Cup when he replaced Maxi Rodríguez in the second half. He assisted Hernán Crespo's goal and also scored the final goal in the 6–0 victory. It is making him the youngest scorer in the tournament.*
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