Lionel Messi: Bio

Lionel Messi Profile & Bio:

Name: Lionel Messi
Birthday: Jun 24, 1987
Birth Place: Rosario, Argentina
Height: 5 ft 6 in (1.69 m)
Primary Position: Forward
Current Team: Barcelona, Spain, Argentine National
Youth Team: Barcelona, Spain


Bio & Stats Sources:
FC Barcelona's Bio
Soccernet's Bio
Wikipedia Bio
Goal.com's Bio

Personal Website:
LionelMessi's Official Website

Social Media:
Lionel Messi: Facebook

Player Compilations:
Watch all of Messi's 234 goals in Barcelona (as of Mar 21, 2012)
Messi Compilation 1
Messi Compilation 2


Latest News on Lionel Messi:

Argentina Soccer Player Rankings via Castrol

In Castrol's latest update there were 3 Argentine soccer/football players in the top ten spot and a total of 95 Argentine players that have a ranking.

1 - Messi - Barcelona
9 - Higuaín - Real Madrid
10- Agüero - Atletico de Madrid


See All Castrol Ranked Argentine Players

Messi bends it for Dynamo Kiev

Messi puts the exclamation mark to his Balon de Oro prize with a bending free kick to win the game against Dynamo Kiev.

Weekend Highlights: Messi, Tevez, Lisandro Lopez, Higuain

This weekend’s highlights include several game winning goals from the usual suspects ,as well as, a hat trick from Lisando Lopez.


Lisandro Lopez’s hat trick against Lille was very impressive but unfortunately not enough to win the game. He continues to prove why he is considered by many the best player in France.




Messi continues to prove why he deserved the Balon de Oro with two goals against Deportivo La Coruna for a 3-1 win.




Tevez once again came up big with a a stunning free kick to win a huge game against Chelsea. It is just amazing how Tevez always finds a way to win when it counts the most.




Gonzalo Higuain also added his contribution to Real Madrid's 4-2 win over Almeria.

Martin Palermo: Maradona calls up the big man

It seems the big man veteran striker Martin Palermo from Boca Juniors will get his long awaited chance of playing in one of the most important games in recent decades. It seems he has has already won the trust of Maradona and the hearts of the Argentine public to win a spot next to Messi in the Argentine attack. He performed spectacularly in the warm-up friendly against Ghana with two goals and yesterday he had a 40 meter opportunistic header that has been televised globally.

Palermo's recent actions plus the fact that Maradona has decided to replicate Barcelona's formula of Messi / Ibrahimovic seems to indicate this very likely line-up. It is also quite obvious that Maradona's strategy of concentrating the diminutive play-maker strikers of Aguero, Tevez & Messi has not lived up to its hype. I say give the Big Man a chance. See his recent goals below:

Palermo against Ghana




Palermo's Spectacular 40m Header:

Argentina Vs Ecuador - New team formation in the works

After their uneventful win against Colombia, Maradona is looking for new ideas and combinations for the High altitude game against Ecuador this Wednesday. The team might even be unrecognizable - There is also a very good possibility that Messi will not play due to a Yellow card that he received in a previous game which could jeopardize the next game against Brazil. Other key players, Mascherano (team captain) & Aguero will definitely not be present due to cards and injuries.

Based on the last major training session in Buenos Aires, it was basically the B-Team that was on the field playing the scrimmage game against the practice team (Tristan Suarez's Club youth team).

Possible Players Against Ecuador:
Juan Pablo Carrizo, Javier Zanetti,Juan Forlín Nicolás Burdisso, Nicolás Otamendi, Emiliano Papa, Maximiliano Rodríguez, Cristian Giménez, Sebastián Battaglia, Fernando Gago, daniel Montenegro, Lisandro López y Gonzalo Bergessio.

As for the high elevation, I don't think Maradona has done enough to prepare his team for the high altitude conditions of Quito, which is approx. 10,000 ft above sea level. In my opinion, he should have flown out on Sunday, enabling his team to have a full training session in altitude. This would've given his players a better feel for the environment and extra time to acclimatize.

The one advantage that Argentina has against Ecuador is history. Argentina has won most of their previous engagements. AFA put together some great stats of Argentina's playing history against Ecuador which is a must see for all stat hungry fans. Click Here for the AFA stats

Messi, Tevez, & Aguero will be most likely play against Colombia

It appears Maradona will play the wonder trio of Messi, Tevez & Aguero against Colombia this Saturday. For one, they were seen playing together in today's practice session at their Ezieza airport training center in Buenos Aires. Another clue is Messi stating to the media that he loves to play along side Aguero & Tevez.

On the defensive end, there is a major change in the net - Maradona chose Mariano Andújar from Argentina's local team Estudiantes to be the goalie. It will be his first start as the national goalie.


Played in Today's Practice Session
Mariano Andújar (Estudiantes, Arg )
Daniel Díaz (Getafe, Spain)
Martín Demichelis (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid, Spain)
Fernando Gago (Real Madrid, Spain)
Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, UK)
Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle, UK)
Juan Sebastián Verón (Estudiantes, Arg)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain)
Carlos Tevez (Manchester United, UK)
Sergio Agüero (Atlético de Madrid, Spain)


Finally, I wanted to share with you an interesting interview of Javier Zanetti by FIFA.com - This interview provides insights on the curent state of the national team.

Go to the Fifa.com interview of Javier Zanetti

This week's player standouts - Lionel Messi & Diego Milito

This weekend we saw some outstanding soccer from Lionel Messi (Barcelona) & Diego Milito (Genoa).

Lionel Messi:

Messi's performance against Real Madrid this weekend was pure artistry. He was the creative engine behind Barcelona's 6-2 win. The similarities with Maradona are becoming more apparent as he matures. As for the Argentine national team, his role as the #10 is sold as a rock.




Diego Milito:

Diego Milito scored a hat trick today for Genoa against Sampdoria. He showed his true striker qualities by finishing off three great goals. I think Maradona should keep Diego Milito high on his national team radar. Milito would give him the option of using the classic tall center forward or #9. This would be a nice complement to the #10 (Messi).

Maradona's Ultra Offensive Strategy Produced Goals

Yesterday's game against Venezuela produced four 1st class goals from Messi, Tevez, Maxi, & Aguero. The line-up that I posted the day before only had one change which was to have Zanetti on Defence. This change demonstrates how determined Maradona was to make this a purely attacking team since Zanetti is known for his ability to hold the ball and switch to an attacking role when necessary. Messi wore the number 10 and made it proud by scoring and setting up goals. The important thing is that a new team has been officially consecrated in this new era which I have full confidence in. Thanks again Maradona.

Maradona's Line-up Against Venezuela

According to the Argentine media, it appears Maradona is preparing an all-front assault on Venezuela by placing his biggest guns (Messi, Aguero, & Tevez) on the front line. Most practice sessions have included a 3-4-3 formation (see below). Mascherano & Gago will be in charge of circulating the ball & controlling the mid-field which is a crucial element to the Argentine formula. If this formation does play on Saturday it will be a true test as to whether this super trio can jive together and produce goals.


Probable Team Against Venezuela (Click player for Stats)

Tevez ---------- Aguero ---------- Messi

Guiterrez - Mascherano - Gago - Rodriguez

Heinze ---------- Diaz ---------- Angeleri

---------------Carrizo------------------

"El Kun" Aguero & Messi Show Off Their Ball Magic

"El Kun" Aguero (Atletico de Madrid) & Messi (Barcelona) battled it out in today's Sunday duel. Both had a brilliant game with Aguero's team sneaking in a victory with an unusual Messi style left footed kick. I'm sure Maradona was watching this game real close since Atletico had not yet won a game in 2009. This performance has locked in El Kun's role on the national team which he rightly deserves. It also doesn't hurt to have Maradona as your son's grandfather. In any case, after today's performance any doubts I had of him have been completely erased.

Maradona - Hail to the Chief

Argentina 2 - France 0

Maradona is off to an awesome start as head coach. The team was off to a shakey start with unusually low ball possesion but after the sniper shot by Jonás Gutiérrez (23) the team managed to settle down. Messi did his thing with his magical abilities and Carlos Tevez had an immidiate impact after he subed for Aguero setting up Messi for his awesome goal. When Maxi Rodriguez & El Kun Aguero came off the field to be subed Maradona kissed them as a father would - So inspirational. I think Maradona is going to keep tweaking his formula but the main cast is set. However, Riquelme and maybe Veron will definitley get their chance. There is also exciting talent like Ezequiel Lavezzi and German Denis that need to get their shot. I also can't leave out the new goalie Juan Carrizo. He was a solid rock with magnets as hands.

What an exiting time to be an Argentine Soccer Fan...........