Lionel Messi

Introduction
Lionel Messi is one of the best football players in the world. Many people think he is the greatest player ever. This is his story.

Early Life
Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987. He was born in Rosario, Argentina. As a child, he was very small. When he was 10 years old, doctors found out he had a growth problem. He needed special medicine to grow. His family did not have much money for the medicine.

Messi loved football from a very young age. He started playing when he was just 4 years old. He played for a small team called Grandoli. Later, he played for Newell's Old Boys, a bigger team in his city.

Moving to Spain
When Messi was 13 years old, something big happened. FC Barcelona, a famous football team from Spain, wanted him to play for them. They also said they would pay for his medicine. This was very important for Messi and his family.

It was not easy for young Messi. He had to leave his home and friends in Argentina. He moved to a new country with a different language. But he knew this was his big chance.

Growing Up at Barcelona
At Barcelona, Messi got better and better at football. He played for the youth teams first. Everyone could see he was special. He was very fast and could control the ball very well.

In 2004, when he was 17 years old, Messi played his first game for Barcelona's main team. He was the youngest player to play for Barcelona in an official game. Soon, he became one of the team's most important players.

Becoming the Best
From 2009 to 2021, Messi did amazing things at Barcelona. He won many, many games. He helped Barcelona win:
- 10 Spanish league titles
- 7 Spanish cups
- 4 Champions League titles

He also scored more goals than any other player for Barcelona. He scored 672 goals in 778 games! This is a record that might never be broken.

Playing for Argentina
Messi always wanted to win something big with Argentina, his country. For many years, this was very hard. Argentina lost some very important finals. Some people in Argentina were not happy with Messi.

But in 2021, something wonderful happened. Messi helped Argentina win the Copa America. This was a very important trophy. Then, in 2022, the best thing happened: Argentina won the World Cup! Messi was the team's captain and best player. Now, everyone in Argentina loves him.

Moving to Paris and Miami
In 2021, Messi had to leave Barcelona. The team did not have enough money to keep him. This was very sad for Messi and for Barcelona's fans. He moved to Paris Saint-Germain in France.

After two years in Paris, Messi moved to Inter Miami in the United States in 2023. He is still playing football and making people happy with his amazing skills.

What Makes Messi Special
Messi is special for many reasons:
- He is very fast with the ball
- He can control the ball very well
- He scores many goals
- He helps other players score goals too
- He is humble and kind
- He works very hard
- He never gives up

Many young players want to be like Messi. He shows that you can be successful if you work hard and never stop trying.

Personal Life
Messi is married to Antonella Roccuzzo. They knew each other when they were children in Argentina. They have three sons: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro.

Messi also helps other children. He has a special organization called the Leo Messi Foundation. This organization helps children who are sick or who need help with school.

Glossary

Here are some important words from the text:

**amazing** (adj.) - very good, wonderful
Example: *Messi did amazing things at Barcelona.*

**captain** (n.) - the leader of a team
Example: *Messi was the team's captain.*

**control** (v.) - to make something do what you want
Example: *He could control the ball very well.*

**foundation** (n.) - an organization that helps people
Example: *The Leo Messi Foundation helps children.*

**humble** (adj.) - not proud, modest
Example: *Messi is humble and kind.*

**medicine** (n.) - something that helps sick people get better
Example: *He needed special medicine to grow.*

**official** (adj.) - real, formal
Example: *He played his first official game.*

**record** (n.) - the best or highest number ever
Example: *This is a record that might never be broken.*

**skills** (n.) - special abilities
Example: *He has amazing football skills.*

**trophy** (n.) - a prize you get for winning
Example: *The World Cup is a very important trophy.*

**youth** (n.) - young people
Example: *He played for the youth teams.*

Questions About Lionel Messi

True or False
Read each sentence and write True or False.

1. Messi was a very tall child. _____
2. Barcelona helped pay for Messi's medicine. _____
3. Messi played his first game for Barcelona when he was 20 years old. _____
4. Messi is married to someone he knew as a child. _____
5. Messi never won the World Cup with Argentina. _____
6. He moved to Miami after playing in Barcelona. _____
7. Messi has an organization that helps children. _____
8. He played for only one team in Argentina as a child. _____

Multiple Choice
Choose the best answer.

1. How old was Messi when he started playing football?
a) 2 years old
b) 4 years old
c) 6 years old
d) 8 years old

2. What problem did Messi have as a child?
a) He couldn't run fast
b) He had a growth problem
c) He couldn't play football
d) He didn't like sports

3. How many Spanish league titles did Messi win with Barcelona?
a) 5
b) 7
c) 8
d) 10

4. What happened in 2021?
a) Messi won the World Cup
b) Messi started playing football
c) Messi left Barcelona
d) Messi got married

5. How many sons does Messi have?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four

Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the missing words using the word box.

```
Argentina goals Barcelona medicine football Miami
```

1. Messi was born in _________.
2. He needed special _________ to grow.
3. He played for _________ for many years.
4. He scored 672 _________ for his team.
5. He now plays in _________.

Open Questions
Answer these questions in your own words.

1. Why did Messi move to Spain when he was young?
2. What makes Messi special as a football player? Write three things.
3. How did Messi help Argentina?
4. What does the Leo Messi Foundation do?
5. Why were people in Argentina not happy with Messi for many years?

Sequence the Events
Put these events in order (1-6):

___ Messi wins the World Cup
___ Messi starts playing for Barcelona's main team
___ Messi moves to Miami
___ Messi is born in Rosario
___ Messi moves to Spain
___ Messi wins Copa America

Word Match
Match the words with their meanings:

1. humble ___ a prize for winning
2. captain ___ very good
3. trophy ___ the leader of a team
4. amazing ___ not proud
5. skills ___ special abilities

Writing Activity
Write 3-4 simple sentences about:
1. Why you think Messi is a good football player
2. What young players can learn from Messi's story