Lionel Messi

Name in native country: Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccitini 
Date of birth: 24.06.1987 
Place of birth: Rosario
Country: Argentina 
Position: Striker - Centre Forward
Foot: left 

Messi is regarded as one of the best football players of his generation, Messi received several Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 2009and 2010. His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi as his “successor”. Messi was the top scorer of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship with six goals, including two in the final game. Shortly thereafter, he became an established member of Argentina’s senior international team. In 2006, he became the youngest Argentine to play in the FIFA World Cup and he won a runners-up medal at the Copa América tournament the following year. In 2008, in Beijing, he won his first international honour, an Olympic gold medal, with the Argentina Olympic football team. At international level Messi has scored 17 goals in 62 games