Lionel Messi

Best Soccer Players

2011-12-29T12:08:00.001-08:00

The 2010 World Cup, held in South Africa, was won by Spain 1-0 over The Netherlands. It was Spain's first world title and the first time a European nation has won the championship outside of Europe. The world's best soccer players were on display, and they didn't disappoint the millions of viewers watching. Among the best soccer players in the world are:

Lionel Messi of Argentina, a forward. Messi plays professionally for Barcelona and led his Argentine squad to the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal plays midfield for Real Madrid. Very explosive and can shoot from anywhere. His Real Madrid teammate, Kaka, of Brazil, also a midfielder, is an artistic playmaker whom defenses fear for his "break-down" ability.

Didier Drogba, from the Ivory Coast, plays forward for Chelsea of the Premier League. His physical prowess and athleticism sets him apart. Liverpool's Fernando Torres, a native of Spain, uses perfect technique and amazing dexterity to baffle defenders. England native Wayne Rooney plays forward for legendary Manchester United. Rooney is an aggressive, intelligent striker who can play any position.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, of Sweden, teams with Messi of Barcelona to form a lethal "one-two" punch. Maarten Stekelenburg of The Netherlands, plays for Club Ajax of Germany. He dominated at the World Cup, showing he's now among the best goalies worldwide. Landon Donovan, U.S. Probably the best American player ever, Donovan has shown the ability to take a match over with his creativity. Nemanja Vidic of Serbia, keys Manchester United's stellar defense, using both power and surprising agility. Spain's Cesc Fabregas is a dynamic playmaker for Arsenal, also very effective as a passer.

Luis Fabiano of Brazil, can be unpredictable and volatile, but his skills are unquestioned. Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o has long been one of soccer's smoothest performers. Now a veteran, he has developed the intelligence to complement his immense skills. David Villa is an elite finisher who somehow finds openings where none seem available. The Spaniard can score on any defender. Chelsea's Michael Essien of Ghana is equally effective whether defending or attacking. Own perhaps the best long shot in the world.

Lionel Messi's Goal of the Century - FC Barcelona v Getafe

2011-12-29T09:38:00.001-08:00

While many FC Barcelona football tickets are bought by those wanting to see the marvels of Ronaldinho and Eto'o at the Nou Camp, one of the most exciting young players to regularly grace the line up of FC Barcelona is the Argentinean player Lionel Messi.
While highly regarded in the Nou Camp, his profile has been lower than the two previously mentioned players until now; but perhaps the beginning of the end of his relative low-profile happened last week when he scored an amazing goal in a match against Getafe in the Copa del Rey - the King's Cup.
The match - in which Barcelona beat Getafe 5-2 - saw two goals from Messi, as well as Xavi, Eto'o and Gudjohnsen, but it is the Messi's first goal in particular that people are talking about nearly a week after the event.
In an almost move for move reproduction of Maradona's "goal of the century" against England in the 1986 World Cup semi-final - English fans will never forgive Maradona scoring off a handball in the same match, dubbed by Maradona himself as "the hand of God" - Leo Messi received the ball from Xavi, beat a total of five Getafe players and then knocked the ball past the goalkeeper into the net, running a distance of 63 metres in doing so.
Naturally Messi is being compared with Diego Maradona, to whom he dedicated the goal, and if you watch the two goals side by side the similarities are eerie.
Although Messi's star is currently shining bright, the future for the young player was at one time looking bleak. Diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency when he was eleven years old, a time when the Argentinean economy was in meltdown, neither his family nor the club that had expressed an interest in him, Club Atletico River Plate, were unable to afford the treatment.
However, his family jumped at the chance of starting a new life in Spain when Catalan giants FC Barcelona stepped in with an offer that included all medical expenses and he quickly flourished in Barcelona's youth team. Since becoming a first team regular he has become a firm favourite and puts his talent to good use against some of the top teams in the league, including arch-rivals Real Madrid.
Although the comparison with Maradona unfair at this early stage in his career, providing Lionel Messi can remain motivated and injury free then he could easily join the ranks of the football greats.

Argentina - Ready to Win With Messi

2011-12-29T09:36:00.001-08:00

. One of the thirteen teams to take part in the very first World Cup Championship in 1930, Argentina has certainly enjoyed its share of success and agonized in some serious slumps in the decades since. They've tasted the ultimate victory and been handed some very cruel defeats. This year's squad comes into the competition with a lot of hope and perhaps a bit of revenge (over arch-rival Brazil) in their hearts.
While they did well in that first Cup, the Argentine National Team didn't make it in the finals again for over thirty years. In 1966, they got to the quarterfinals but were eliminated. Then, in 1970, they didn't even qualify to play in the Cup. Finally, their moment of perfection was attained on home soil in 1978 when the Argentine Squad won their first, and only, World Cup Championship. Since then, it's been all about getting back to that place just one more time.
This year's Team Argentina is loaded with talent and has one very experienced had coach in Maradona. Still, the eyes of the world and of the team are following the leadership of their rising young superstar, Lionel Messi. Messi has, after all, been named one of the best footballers in the sport today. It may be that with his talent and with the right leadership, this squad has what it takes to battle off their critics and the opposing teams to win their way to the finals.
Of course, you cannot forget their defeat in qualifying, at the hands of Brazil, has been like a shadow following the team. That, and a few other less-than thrilling victories during the qualification process for the Cup doesn't have the Argentines ranked as highly as they might deserve. Odds makers and fans alike are a little nervous, but most of the faithful are hopeful. Maybe this will be the year that their team tastes victory and enjoys sweetness of revenge, as

Leo Messi - Alves is Impressive

2011-12-29T02:06:00.001-08:00

FC Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi, applauds the system of rotation introduced by his coach, Pep Guardiola. Despite missing few cup matches, he knows it`s the best in the long run as the season is long and players need their rest.
Titles have slipped Barca in the last two seasons and the Argentine has already expressed his desire to lift trophies this season. Figures and stats carry a little meaning for Messi. He considers himself as part of a group that wants to win matches for the club and for the people of Catalunya.
Since joining from Seville, Brazilian right back right has become one of the Barca favorite players. Already accumulating double digit numbers in assists and scoring some nice goals. An amazing feat for a player that originally plays in defense. Recently, Lionel Messi, acknowledged the work and good form of his team mate, saying; "Dani is an impressive player". Last seasons Messi was a bit lonely on the right side of FC Barcelona attack. Belletti and Oleguer were hardly on his level and failed to achieve the same understanding as Alves has with Messi.
The young Argentinian is in favor of rotations. Blaugrana team uses it well and they are adapting more easier to a hectic 2 games a week schedule. This might prove even more important in the coming months, when players are bound to feel tired and fatigued. So far there hasn`t been any complaints coming from Leo. As many other players he is willing to sit some time on the bench in order to give other players a taste of first team football.

Lionel Messi - Celebrating a Soccer Icon

2011-12-28T08:24:00.001-08:00

Lionel Messi's emergence as the world's footballer of the year 2009 was no surprise to so many soccer enthusiasts who have followed the progress of this young soccer icon. This young man came into the limelight during the World Youth Championship (FIFA-20) in the Netherlands in 2005 where he dazzled the world with his dribbling and scoring skills; he eventually emerged the most valuable player of the championship.
Lionel Messi has improved tremendously. Ever since he led his country Argentina to win the FIFA U-20 championship in 2005, he has added more medals to his coffer, including the Olympics gold medal in 2008, the UEFA champions league trophies in 2006 and 2009, the Spanish league trophies, the Spanish F.A. cup, the world clubs cup, the European footballer of the year 2009, and now the FIFA world footballer of the 2009 award.Still in his twenties, he has age on his side and also has a very good club side where contribution of others would help improve his skills further.
One word for Messi 'keep your head cool and the sky will be your limit'. He should remember he is a role model who has a lot of influence on children and lovers of the game of football; he should therefore avoid anything capable of tarnishing his reputation on and off the pitch of play.
This young, talented, amiable, humble and respectable footballer has achieved in a space of four years what so many footballers could not achieve in their entire soccer careers. This soccer maestro has little or nothing more to prove to the soccer world. His award as world footballer of the year has now put him on the same level with soccer heroes like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Paulo Madini, Canavalho, George Weah, Kaka, etc.
The year 2009 was certainly the best year in the life of Lionel Messi and remains a year he would always remember because of the achievements he had - league trophy, F.A. Cup, World Clubs Cup, European footballer of the year award and FIFA world footballer of the year award. This is certainly no mean achievement.
Football history would never be complete without the inclusion of this soccer icon - Lionel Messi. Barcelona FC expects to reap more gains from the investment they made on this young talent. And now that he has helped Argentina to qualify for the world cup in South Africa what shall we expect from him? The world certainly expects nothing less than a dazzling performance.

How to Measure Anaerobic Capacity

2011-12-28T03:14:00.000-08:00

n sports such as soccer, basketball and hockey, the ability to get in front of the defender and create opportunities to score makes you an invaluable player. Elite soccer stars such as Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Gareth Bale have used their tremendous talent and speed to make their presence known on the pitch. On average, a soccer player will travel about 19 to 25 yards before having to change direction or speed. The following anaerobic test, based on 25-yard sprints, measures your ability to deal with the demand of the sport.

Set up the test area. If you will be using a marked football field, have each line judge stand and monitor his line 25 yards away. When testing indoors, use the tape measure to determine 25 yards, and separate and align the cones to indicate the sprinting distance. You will be conducting a total of two trial runs.
Position yourself behind the line. When instructed to start, sprint to the line 25 yards away, making foot contact with it. Immediately sprint back to the first line. You will make six such round trips as fast as possible with no rest in between.
Record the time to the nearest 0.01 (1/10) second on completion of the first trial run, and take five minutes to rest. Make sure to walk and stretch during the break but stay alert for the second trial run. Line back up on the line after the five minutes have passed.
Conduct the second trial run. Perform the shuttle exactly as performed earlier. Take the average of the two trials. Compare your results to the 90 percent percentile ranks of the NCAA Division I Athletes shuttle run times: men's basketball 54.1 seconds; women's basketball 58.4 seconds; baseball 56.7 seconds; softball 54.1 seconds.

Tips & Warnings

Try to stay low throughout the movement.
Try not to spin or touch excessively past the line, because it can adversely affect your time.

Lionel Messi - The Greatest Contemporary Footballer

2011-12-28T01:31:00.001-08:00

Is he the greatest contemporary footballer in the game today? Many might argue that yes, Lionel Messi is the greatest. After all, fans and foes have often drawn lines of comparison between Messi and his hero, the legendary Deigo Maradona. Add to that the ultimate compliment offered up by Maradona himself, who stated Messi would be his "successor", and it's kind of hard not to at least notice that Lionel Messi is one amazing footballer.
As a striker/winger for Barcelona and a member of the Argentine Senior International Team, Messi made his debut with Barcelona during the 2004/05 Season and broke La Liga's record for being the youngest player to ever score a league goal. The young striker's aggressive play and sheer athleticism powered him to a spot as a first team regular in Barcelona in 2006/07, when he scored 14 goals in only 26 league games. Then, as if to raise the bar for himself, he went on to score 38 goals in Barcelona's incredible 2008/2009 Season.
As a top scorer in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, he soon became an established player in the Argentine Senior International Team. As part of that squad, Messi became the youngest Argentine player ever to participate in a World Cup match in 2006. Later, in 2008, he was part of the Argentine Olympic squad and was honored with a gold medal for his efforts in the Beijing Games.
Beloved of fans on the field, he also deserves kudos for his charitable efforts off the field, too. In 2007, Messi establish the Fundacion Leo Messi (Leo Messi Foundation). The charity supports access to both education and health care for children in at risk situations. Likely a response to his own childhood illness, Messi makes sure the foundation supports assistance for Argentine children diagnosed with difficult medical conditions by offering them advanced treatments in Spain and covering their expenses including transportation, hospital stay and rehabilitation. He is partnered with the company Herbalife in this endeavor. In March of this year, Messi became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, at least partially due to his personal efforts on behalf of children's rights.

How to Decorate a Locker Room for Soccer With Pictures

2011-12-28T00:39:00.001-08:00

Decorating the soccer locker room with pictures and posters is a motivational technique used from amateur local league soccer clubs to world class teams such as Arsenal FC. Hanging pictures is relatively straightforward, starting with thinking of creative ideas for pictures to safely and smartly hanging your photographs. Take advice from someone with DIY experience before you hang your pictures and posters if you do not know how best to achieve your decoration.

Choose the perfect motivational poster or picture for each of your team's soccer players. Find a photograph of the player playing soccer or celebrating winning a match or league before enlarging and printing it using a professional printing service. Ask each of your team's players about someone they idolize, such as the legendary soccer player Pele; the boxer Muhammad Ali; or even a non-sporting figure, such as politician Nelson Mandela. Note each player's choice before visiting a poster store in person or online to find the perfect picture to hang.
Hang each individual picture or poster beneath the player's hanger in the locker room, preferably at eye-level, so it is the first and most prominent thing each player will see. Consider whether the locker room is your team's permanent residence or whether you only receive occasional access to it, such as once a week, before deciding how to fix the pictures on the wall.
Hang the posters or pictures in a permanent fashion if the locker room is used primarily by your team. Use a cable tracer to check the walls that you will be attaching the poster to for cables and wires before getting a friend or teammate to hold the poster level and in place. Hammer one nail into each corner of the poster, ensuring it does not have any creases or wrinkles, to hold it securely in place.
Affix posters to the wall in a temporary way if your team only uses locker rooms occasionally, such as an amateur team that plays once a week. Apply an adhesive spray to the back side of your poster, ensuring you have an even coverage, before gently applying it to the wall and pressing out any creases or wrinkles. Stick white tack or tape to each corner of the poster, alternatively, and stick your picture securely to the wall in the player's locker room spot.

Tips & Warnings

Always exercise caution when using home tools to hang pictures. Take advice from a handyman or ask an adult for help whenever operating tools.
Be careful when hanging posters using spray adhesive --- the adhesive remains sticky after you remove the poster from the wall, so fold it carefully in half between uses.

John Obi Mikel - Comparing Him With Lionel Messi

2011-12-27T00:59:00.001-08:00

John Obi Mikel of Nigeria and Lionel Messi of Argentina were both at the world youth championship (FIFA U-20) in Netherlands in 2005, where they both shone like a Million Stars, to the delight of soccer fans the world over.
Both players played as creative/attacking midfielders for their countries at the youth championship. Argentina eventually defeated Nigeria by 2-1 at the final to win the trophy; and Lionel Messi emerged the world's best player, while John Obi Mikel was voted second best player at the U-20 level.
Five years after, the gulf between the two players has widened so much that one begins to wonder what has happened. The Argentine went to FC Barcelona thereafter and developed his skills further to the point of wining several domestic titles, 2 champions' league titles, 1 club world cup, 1 Olympics gold medal, European footballer of the year, world footballer of the year, etc.
But the Nigerian made the mistake of his career by allowing his father to influence him in choosing to go to Chelsea FC of England. The only achievement he can boast of till date include a few FA cups, Carling cups and community shield cup. He just won his first league title with Chelsea this year.
What went wrong?
Lionel Messi carefully chose a club side that allowed him to develop further, and brought out the best in him. John Obi Mikel, on the other hand refused a bid from Manchester United that would have enabled him maintain his position as an attacking midfielder and develop his skills further. Instead, he chose to go to Chelsea FC because of the money involved. On getting to Chelsea, Coach Jose Maurinho turned him into a defensive midfielder, and his skills nosedived. During the period he has stayed in Chelsea, Man U has won 3 league titles, 1 club world cup, 1 champions' league title, etc. Today, he regrets his decision: he would have won 3 league titles, 1 champions' league, 1 club world cup, several FA cups and Carling cups by now with Man U. He would have also had the opportunity to shine better than he is doing right now and perhaps be close to Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi in terms of skill. But today, he is not in the top 50 players' list. What an Irony!
In choosing a career, one should not consider only the monetary aspect; one should think of one's opportunity to develop further, and when the place you intend to develop your career does not guarantee you that chance, you should look elsewhere.
Besides, you should not allow anybody to influence you when it comes to choosing your career. You know what you want; why don't you go for that which would give you satisfaction? If you make any mistakes from the onset, you may end up regretting for life.

How to Be Successful in Soccer

2011-12-26T11:35:00.001-08:00

Starting young makes a huge difference in soccer success. Lionel Messi and Mia Hamm, for example, both started playing the game at age 5 and kicking the ball even earlier. While you can't hop in a time machine and get your earlier, kindergarten self working at skills and drills, you can dedicate yourself to achieving soccer success, even in middle age.

Work on the technical elements of soccer: dribbling, passing, receiving, heading and finishing. Combine playing in scrimmages, pickup and real games with practice with teammates and even kicking the ball against a wall to get as many repetitions and touches under your belt as you can.

Polish your tactical game, which in simple terms involves knowing where to stand to benefit your team as a match unfolds. Increase your understanding of tactics by working on team defense or switching the point of attack from one side of the field to the other with long passes. Move into a new position right after passing to receive a return pass or make overlapping runs, going from the back or middle of the field to the front, to receive a return pass from a midfield teammate.

Run sprints, change direction as you dribble through cones and rest the day after games to increase your fitness, agility and endurance. Add strength-training sessions twice a week to work on leg, core and upper-body strength. Focus on a healthy diet with carbohydrates to fuel your muscles, fat only in modest quantities to keep your weight at a healthy level and protein to rebuild muscles.

Include the mental game of soccer as part of your success project. Focus on making good decisions and staying positive, especially if you play goalkeeper. Study the game in terms of its top players by watching games in person or on television, looking for examples of mental strength as exemplified by late comebacks and of creativity shown by scoring when faced with a stifling defense.

Stay late after practice to work on your weak points, especially your weak foot. Take inspiration from players such as David Beckham, who took hundreds of extra kicks to develop a right foot that can bend balls and create goals and assists.

Lionel Messi Emerges FIFA World Footballer Again

2011-12-26T08:36:00.000-08:00

Argentine national and FC Barcelona midfielder Lionel Messi has once again been voted FIFA World footballer of the year for the second consecutive year following his exploits in both his club side and national team.
The mercurial attacking midfielder has been instrumental to Barca's superlative runs in both the La Liga and the UEFA Champions' league in the past 5 years. His speed, dribbling skills and brilliant passes have no doubt contributed in great measures to the success stories of FC Barcelona.
He assisted the former champions to the semi final stage of the UEFA Champions' league last season; and also played a significant role in their emergence as the La Liga champions. He also played a significant part in his country getting to the quarter final stage of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
This wonder kid has kept improving since he made his mark at the World Youth Championship in the Netherlands in 2005: he has not looked back ever since. Now he is beginning to rub shoulders with the great names in soccer history - Arantes De Nacimento (Pele), Zinedine Zidane, Louis Nazario DeLima (Ronaldo), Manco Van Basten, Ronaldinho, etc.
When he took the world by surprise in 2005, a lot of people had concluded that his performance then was a flash in the pan; but today he has proved all his critics wrong by adding titles upon titles to his coffers.
Winning the World Footballer award back to back is no mean feat: only few footballers have actually been able to achieve that. Messi has been able to get to this enviable level as a result of his discipline and cool-headedness. He has not allowed pride to come into him; he has not allowed his achievements to go into his head.
This is no doubt a deserved victory. That the world voted overwhelmingly for him in preference to Cristiano Ronaldo shows that his success was truly great and convincing. He proved himself in the field of play; he made an impact as a player and as a team member.
With age on his side, Lionel Messi may go ahead to surpass the records of Pele, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, Manco Van Basten, etc. He has already surpassed some of the records of these soccer greats by winning the Olympics soccer medal and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The way he is playing this season, he may just end up winning the award for the 3rd consecutive year. He has scored several goals already and provided about 15 assists in the La Liga. He has remained consistent in both the league and the Champions' league as well.
The world celebrates with you on your achievement as the current World Footballer of the year. We wish you many more years of soccer achievements. More kudos to you, Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi Secrets and Facts

2011-12-26T03:34:00.001-08:00

South Africa World Cup 2010 is around the corner and fans from all over the world can't wait to watch current soccer stars go head-to-head during the much anticipated tournament. On June 11th 2010, South Africa the host country will kick-off the tournament against Mexico which will be the first game of group A which is composed by South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, and France. Although millions of fans are expected to watch the opening ceremony, many more are expected to be glued to the TV on June 12th which is the day Argentina will play its first game of the tournament against Nigeria. The reason for the increase in viewers is not because this is a classic, but because of Argentina's young star Lionel Messi.
At merely 22 years old, Lionel Messi has been named the best soccer player in the planet already and has won championships with his current team Barcelona FC.
Lionel Messi is a small mid-fielder with heart of a lion. He is only 5 feet 7 inches making his ball handling skills and noticeable lower body strength a sight for sore eyes for the hard-core soccer fans. His soccer skills are so impressive that has been compared to the Argentinean legend Diego Maradona. Messi moved to Europe with his family at an early age, and his soccer skills were developed by Barcelona FC. In the 2004-2005 Spanish soccer league (La Liga) Messi was the youngest player to debut in a team in La Liga and the youngest to score a goal in an official game in La Liga.
Although the Argentinean national soccer team struggled to qualify for this summers World Cup, all eyes will be on this team because its heart and soul is named Lionel Messi.

Cristiano Ronaldo Vs Lionel Messi

2011-12-26T01:21:00.001-08:00

Arguably two of the best footballers of the current decade, both are, at glance, very similar players. They're both attackers, great with a ball, and both play for a Spanish club. However there can only be one winner, so here's the comparison: Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo.
Lionel Messi
Lionel is only 24 years old and currently plays for fc Barcelona. Born in Rosario, Messi started playing football at the age of 5, under his father's wings, at a local club. He then rolled into the Barca youth team where he worked his way up from C-B teams to the main squad in rapid pace. His debut in the highest class of football began at the age of 16, during a friendly against FC Porto.
Now in 2011 it's time to analyse his style of play and it becomes crystal clear that he's a master with the ball. Thanks to his short length and fast legs, any opponent will have a hard time keeping up with him. However unlike most magicians, he's also a terrific team player.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano is 26 years old and is a Real Madrid player. Ronaldo started his career at Sporting (2002) and in 2003 he guided his team to a win against the big Manchester United. The players of Man U knew that they would rather play with him than against him, so they contracted Ronaldo for the start of the 2003 season. After countless of successes, he became the most expensive player ever when he transferred to Real Madrid in June of 2009, the price: 94 million euro.
Ronaldo is a very fast and strong player. He took sprint lessons from the Olympics champion and is clearly a player "from the streets", pulling more tricks with a ball than any party clown could ever aim for. This quality is further emphasised by a great shooting technique that makes him an excellent asset during set pieces.
Versus
Now it's time to compare the two players and pinpoint a winner, in my respectful opinion. First it's clear that both players are terrific assets to any team, and both share a lot of qualities. For one they can both outplay several opponents and make a difference when the opposition is tight.
However a winner has to be chosen and in my opinion that winner is Cristiano Ronaldo. At this point Messi might have the edge on the field, but Ronaldo has great free kicks and is clearly stronger physically. The trade off being that Messi is the better team player. I remember Ronaldo when he played for Manchester United and back then he was, without a doubt, the best player in the world. His way of attacking suited the wing-play of Manchester United perfectly, and while less obvious in Madrid's style of play, his past years are to be considered. Also in Ronaldo's favour is his great charisma off the pitch. Messi is a pure footballer and doesn't have that same level of personality away from the field, something past greats (Cruijff, Maradona) did have.
And that's it for this comparison. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi share a lot of qualities; especially the ball technique of both is ground breaking. And while Messi currently has the edge, in my opinion Ronaldo is the more complete footballer in the long haul, not partly thanks to his great charisma both on and off the pitch. However they're both very young so in the coming years this slight favour can definitely swing both ways.

Lionel Messi

2011-09-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

Lionel Andres Messi was born on the 24th june 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. His father was a factory worker and his mother was a cleaner. When he was only a little boy, his grandmother who spent lots of time with him brought him to the local football club and asked the coach to let him participate in it. He caused great wonder when he immediately played better than the other much older boys!

The family moved to Spain when Lionel was thirteen years old. Not only to evade the economic crisis but also to obtain the financial means for expensive medicines. He was troubled by a hormone deficit and would have stayed small when he wouldn't have received the help of FC Barcelona. They had already early discovered his talent and even his first contract for this club was detailed out on a paper napkin, because there was not paper available and the sporting director wanted to make a contract immediately.The boy once so small became one of the best footballplayers the world has known. In 2009, he helped his club to win a triple: the Copa del Rey (the annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams), La Liga (the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system) and the Champions league. He won the global award 'World Player of the Year' for two years in row in 2009 and 2010. Reasons enough, for example he had scored in 2010 no less than 60 goals for his club and country.