Sunday 6 January 2013



  • Lionel Messi

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Lionel Messi
  • Squad No: 10
  • Position: Forward
  • Age: 25
  • Birth Date: Jun 24, 1987
  • Birth Place: Rosario, Argentina
  • Height: 5' 7'' (1.70m)
  • Weight: 67 kg

Profile


Lionel Messi is the heir apparent to the throne left vacant by Diego Armando Maradona. The waters are divided between those who consider him to be far from being the best No. 10, and those who believe that Messi will be even better than Maradona.

Born in Rosario, he cut his teeth in the youth ranks of Newell's Old Boys, until a hormonal problem that affected his growth changed the plans of his family and, of course, his personal future. Facing expensive treatment for their son, Messi's parents moved to Spain as Newell's were not able to afford the medical costs related to his condition, and even the wealthiest Argentine teams, such as River Plate, refused to foot the bill.

After his first trial with Barcelona, the Catalan coaches had no doubts. They decided to sign Messi and pay for his medical treatment. His growth was noticeable within Barca, and in little time he came to be considered one of the great talents at the club. He made his debut in the first division in October 2004, against Espanyol, and Barcelona have since adopted him as one of their greatest idols.

His first championship would come in the Liga season of 2004-05. Since then, and playing a more prominent role every season, he has won every major club trophy at Camp Nou - including a stunning haul of six in 2008-09 - and claimed the World Player of the Year award three times in three years, leaving many in little doubt as to the fact that Messi is the best player of his generation; possibly of all-time.

That idea was given further weight in March 2012 when, at the age of 24, he became the all-time top scorer at Barcelona - beating the 232 goals of Cesar Rodriguez.

Strengths: His ball skills are second to none, his runs from midfield are usually lethal and he is almost impossible to tackle when he gets his head down. His balance when running at speed is incredible.

Weaknesses: Too often he searches for a way to finish moves by himself without looking for team-mates in a better position to shoot at goal.

Career high: Winning the 2009, 2010 and 2011 World Player of the Year awards.

Career low: He was unable to perform to his best in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where Argentina were eliminated in the quarter-finals with Messi looking on from the bench.

Style: Quick, incisive, balanced, a stylish runner with the ball.

Quotes: "Messi is my Maradona," said Maradona himself, as the head coach of the Argentine national team.

Trivia: His debut with the national team (against Hungary) was a disaster: he entered the game in the 18th minute of the second half, and 47 seconds later was sent off.

Career

2012/13 STATISTICS
TEAMCompetitionGSSBGASHSGFCFSYCRC
BarcelonaEsp Cup1020000000
BarcelonaSup Cup2020830700
BarcelonaLa Liga161265904774310
BarcelonaUCL5152291601100
ArgentinaInt4070430100
ArgentinaWCQ9072282152400
Season Totals37249915990128610
2011/12 STATISTICS
TEAMCompetitionGSSBGASHSGFCFSYCRC
ArgentinaWCQ502112941400
ArgentinaInt4020221400
BarcelonaUCL1101457635132820
BarcelonaLa Liga361501519899277860
BarcelonaCWC2021330300
BarcelonaSup Cup2032763500
ArgentinaCopa Am40036451800
BarcelonaSuper C1010000000
BarcelonaEsp Cup5230000010
Season Totals70377273041585315090
2010/11 STATISTICS
TEAMCompetitionGSSBGASHSGFCFSYCRC
BarcelonaEsp Cup5270000010
ArgentinaWC5001291231500
BarcelonaLa Liga312311815080225730
BarcelonaUCL1121236935173700
ArgentinaInt30107331010
Season Totals55651222551304511950
2009/10 STATISTICS
TEAMCompetitionGSSBGASHSGFCFSYCRC
ArgentinaInt2020211500
ArgentinaWCQ10021122113310
BarcelonaUCL110805228103000
BarcelonaLa Liga305341016386298430
BarcelonaCWC1120422610
BarcelonaSuper C1000000010
BarcelonaEsp Cup3010000010
Season Totals58649112331195315870
2008/09 STATISTICS
TEAMCompetitionGSSBGASHSGFCFSYCRC
BarcelonaEsp Cup4460000010
ArgentinaOly5020000010
BarcelonaLa Liga274231111450268320
BarcelonaUCL10295321182510
ArgentinaWCQ802286133310
Season Totals54104218154674714160
2007/08 STATISTICS
TEAMCompetitionGSSBGASHSGFCFSYCRC
ArgentinaWCQ40219311200
BarcelonaUCL12081371973120
BarcelonaLa Liga23510126833337220
BarcelonaEsp Cup1000000010
Season Totals4052014114554111550
2006/07 STATISTICS
TEAMCompetitionGSSBGASHSGFCFSYCRC
BarcelonaSuper C1000000000
BarcelonaEsp Cup2020000010
ArgentinaInt3010000000
BarcelonaLa Liga233142461535020
ArgentinaWC1211325400
BarcelonaUCL4110738010
Season Totals346193562048440
2005/06 STATISTICS
TEAMCompetitionGSSBGASHSGFCFSYCRC
BarcelonaUCL42112076000
BarcelonaLa Liga11660321113020
Season Totals15871521819020
2004/05 STATISTICS
TEAMCompetitionGSSBGASHSGFCFSYCRC
BarcelonaLa Liga0710000000
BarcelonaUCL1000000000

GLOSSARY
GS: Games Started, SB: Used as Substitute, G: Goals, A: Assists, SH: Shots, SG: Shots on goal, YC: Yellow Cards, RC: Red Cards, FC: Fouls Committed, FS: Fouls Suffered, SV: Saves, OF: Offsides, W: W, D: Draws, L: Losses

Appearances

2012/13 APPEARANCES
DateTeamOpponentCompetitionResultAppearanceGASHSGFCFSYCRC
22/12 2012BarcelonaA-ValladolidLa LigaW 1-3Started10730400
16/12 2012BarcelonaH- AtleticoLa LigaW 4-1Started20421400
12/12 2012BarcelonaA- CordobaEsp CupW 0-2Started20000000
09/12 2012BarcelonaA- BetisLa LigaW 1-2Started20431100
05/12 2012BarcelonaH- BenficaUCLD 0-0On 5700320300
01/12 2012BarcelonaH- AthleticLa LigaW 5-1Started20730200
25/11 2012BarcelonaA- LevanteLa LigaW 0-4Started20530000
20/11 2012BarcelonaA- Spart MoscowUCLW 0-3Started20220000
17/11 2012BarcelonaH- R ZaragozaLa LigaW 3-1Started21320200
14/11 2012ArgentinaA- Saudi ArabiaIntD 0-0Started00000000
11/11 2012BarcelonaA- MallorcaLa LigaW 2-4Started20420300
07/11 2012BarcelonaA- CelticUCLL 2-1Started10640000
03/11 2012BarcelonaH- Celta VigoLa LigaW 3-1Started00520200
27/10 2012BarcelonaA- RayoLa LigaW 0-5Started20730200
23/10 2012BarcelonaH- CelticUCLW 2-1Started00830300
20/10 2012BarcelonaA-DeportivoLa LigaW 4-5Started31543210
16/10 2012ArgentinaA- ChileWCQW 1-2Started10220000
12/10 2012ArgentinaH- UruguayWCQW 3-0Started20540200
07/10 2012BarcelonaH- Real MadridLa LigaD 2-2Started20420600
02/10 2012BarcelonaA- BenficaUCLW 0-2Started02320400
29/09 2012BarcelonaA- SevillaLa LigaW 2-3Started02520400
22/09 2012BarcelonaH-GranadaLa LigaW 2-0Started00730100
19/09 2012BarcelonaH- Spart MoscowUCLW 3-2Started20730100
15/09 2012BarcelonaA- GetafeLa LigaW 1-4On 5820320100
11/09 2012ArgentinaA- PeruWCQD 1-1Started00000000
07/09 2012ArgentinaH-ParaguayWCQW 3-1Started10311600
02/09 2012BarcelonaH- ValenciaLa LigaW 1-0Started01511500
29/08 2012BarcelonaA- Real MadridSup CupL 2-1Started10310600
26/08 2012BarcelonaA-OsasunaLa LigaW 1-2Started20760200
23/08 2012BarcelonaH- Real MadridSup CupW 3-2Started10520100
19/08 2012BarcelonaH- R SociedadLa LigaW 5-1Started20841200
15/08 2012ArgentinaA-GermanyIntW 1-3Started10430100
09/06 2012ArgentinaH- BrazilIntW 4-3Started30000000
02/06 2012ArgentinaH- EcuadorWCQW 4-0Started11650200
29/02 2012ArgentinaA-SwitzerlandIntW 1-3Started30000000
15/11 2011ArgentinaA-ColombiaWCQW 1-2Started10330300
11/11 2011ArgentinaH- BoliviaWCQD 1-1Started00411400
11/10 2011ArgentinaA-VenezuelaWCQL 1-0Started00332400
07/10 2011ArgentinaH- ChileWCQW 4-1Started11221300
2012/13 Season TotalsStarts: 37  •  Sub: 249915990128610

GLOSSARY
G: Goals, A: Assists, SH: Shots, SG: Shots on goal, YC: Yellow Cards, RC: Red Cards, FC: Fouls Commited, FS: Fouls Suffered, SV: Saves, OF: Offsides

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