Presentation Transcript

1. Messi was born on 24 June 1987 at the Hospital Italiano Garibaldi in Rosario, Santa Fe, to parents Jorge HoracioMessi (born 1958), a factory worker, and Celia MaríaCuccittini, a part-time cleaner.[14][15][16][17] His paternal family originates from the Italian city of Ancona, from which his ancestor, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883.[18][19] He has two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matías as well as a sister named María Sol.[20] At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge.[21] In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario.[21] At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.[22]PrimeraDivisión club River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for treatment for his condition as it cost $900 a month.[17]CarlesRexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, had been made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida, Catalonia, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial.[17] Barcelona signed him after watching him play,[23] offering to pay for the medical bills if he was willing to move to Spain.[21] His family moved to Europe and he started in the club's youth teams.[23] He has two cousins also involved in football; Maxi and Emanuel Biancucchi.[24][25]