5 things you don’t know about Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer of the modern era, the Argentine footballer who also plays for the Spanish club Barcelona has won a record six Ballon d’Or awards, a record six European Golden Shoes, and in 2020 was named to the Ballon d’Or Dream Team.

He has spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, where he has won a total of  34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, and four UEFA Champions Leagues.

As the iconic football legend celebrates his 34th birthday today we will discuss  5 things you probably don’t about him.

#1. He pays tributes to his grandmother after every goal: The footballer is regularly seen pointing towards the sky with both hands after scoring a goal but not many people know its meaning.  Messi in 2010 stated that the act was a tribute to Grandmother Celia, who He credits with sparking his interest in football and supporting him as he took his first steps in the game. Sadly, she passed away in 1998 and never saw him play at the top level, but his iconic celebration ensures that her spirit lives on.

#2. He could have played for the Spanish National Team: Messi who has represented Argentina throughout his international career could have played for the Spanish National Team if had he accepted an offer to join the national team of the country, prior to the Argentinian Football Federation calling up the Football Icon, He was being courted by the Spanish Football Federation after former Barcelona director, Carles Rexach, alerted them to his heritage.

#3.  His contract into Barcelona was signed on Paper Napkin: After a trial at Barcelona in 2000 the club’s first team director, Rexach, wanted to sign the 13-year-old immediately but, at the time, it was almost unheard of to bring a player from South America to Europe at such a young age. The club’s board hesitated but, when an ultimatum was forced on Barça, Rexach acted quickly by writing a contract on the nearest piece of paper he could find. That piece of paper happened to be a paper napkin and is now a framed piece of history.

#4. He has scored at least seven goals against every other La Liga Santander team: Messi has scored at least seven times against all 19 of the other sides currently in the top division. His favourite victim is Sevilla, against whom he has a whopping 37 goals in 38 appearances.

#5. His Football Idol is Pablo Aimnar: Messi considers his fellow Argentina and former Valencia and Real Zaragoza playmaker Pablo Aimar as his Football Idol They faced each other in LaLiga on several occasions, including on one special night in 2004 when Aimar came up to the 17-year-old Messi, an unused sub on the night, after the game to offer him his shirt. He still treasures that jersey to this day.