MESSI SET TO LIFT WORLD CUP AND GOLDEN BOOT

Argentina captain and superstar Lionel Messi discusses his ambition to win the World Cup, the race for the Golden Boot and the classic 2014 World Cup.

With six La Liga titles, three UEFA Champions Leagues and four Ballon d’Ors already among his massive haul of winning medals, it would be understandable if Lionel Messi thought he had achieved enough in his phenomenal career.

However, arguably the greatest footballer in history still has one main ambition; to win the World Cup.

Messi, Argentina’s captain and best player, has phenomenal expectations to fulfil but, with four goals already this summer to put him in contention for the Golden Boot, he is silencing his international critics and, as we learn in this Q&A with adidas, he is not finished yet.

Are you pleased to have silenced some doubters with your four World Cup goals so far?

“I try not to concern myself with what people say; I just focus on myself and the team. If we focus on our game plan and stick to our tactics, then our football will do the talking. If I keep scoring goals, it enables Argentina to progress further in the tournament, which is the most important.”

Are you pleased with the performance of the team so far?

“The team is playing well, and we have worked hard to get this far. Switzerland was a real test in the last round, but we stuck to our guns and continued to play our game. We also have a solid defence that allows us more freedom higher up the pitch. Most importantly there is a good atmosphere in the dressing room and we are united as a team.”

Are there any players who have impressed you? How about your fellow adidas star, James Rodriguez?

“Rodriguez has been sensational for Colombia; his goal against Uruguay was a work of art. They are an exciting team to watch.”

What do you make of the early Spanish exit?

“Spain were dealt a very difficult group. This World Cup has been full of surprises and many great teams have already fallen to lesser known footballing nations. Spain have many good players and they will be come back stronger and more determined at the next tournament.”

What do you make of the amount of goals scored this tournament? How is playing with the brazuca?

“It has been phenomenal! People will be talking about this World Cup for many years, as each game has offered something exciting for the fans. It is what football is all about and I feel privileged to be a part of it. As for the brazuca, it is a joy to play with and performs perfectly in all conditions. Every World Cup needs an iconic ball to go with it and this year is no exception.”

Golden Boot or World Cup win?

“World Cup; every time. As a football player, winning the World Cup it is the highest achievement. It is something you dream of as a child and the dream never goes away. I have asked my Barcelona team-mates, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique, how it feels to lift the trophy but it is something they cannot put into words. We are doing everything we can to make the dream a reality.”

Are you feeling any extra pressure as captain?

“I am feeling healthy pressure. It is a great honour to captain Argentina and I will channel any extra pressure into my performances for my country. I want to repay that trust by leading Argentina to World Cup victory.”

Lionel Messi Exceptional Skills

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 Argentina native Lionel Messi has established records for goals scored and won individual awards en route to worldwide recognition as the best player in soccer.

Lionel Messi - Mini Biography  Argentinian soccer player Lionel Messi moved to Spain at the age of 13. Messi became a star in his new country and in 2012 set a record for most goals in a calendar year and was named FIFA's "Player of the Year" a record fourth time.

 

Synopsis

Born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, soccer player Lionel Messi moved to Spain at the age of 13, after the FC Barcelona club agreed to pay for hormone-deficiency treatments. Messi became a star in his new country, scoring at will while leading his club to championships. In 2012, he set a record for most goals in a calendar year, and afterward was named FIFA's "Player of the Year" a record fourth time.

Early Years

Lionel Messi was born Luis Lionel Andres Messi on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. As a young boy, he tagged along when his two older brothers played soccer with their friends, unintimidated by the bigger boys. At the age of 8, he was recruited to join the youth system of Newell's Old Boys, a Rosario-based club. Recognizably smaller than most of the kids in his age group, Messi was eventually diagnosed by doctors as suffering from a hormone deficiency that restricted his growth.
Messi's parents, Jorge and Ceclia, decided on a regimen of nightly growth-hormone injections for their son, though it soon proved impossible to pay several hundred dollars per month for the medication. So, at the age of 13, when Messi was offered the chance to train at soccer powerhouse FC Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, and have his medical bills covered by the team, Messi's family picked up and moved across the Atlantic to make a new home in Spain.

King of Spain: Soccer Career

Although he was often homesick in his new country, Messi moved quickly through the junior system ranks, and by the age of 16, he had made his first appearance for Barcelona. Messi put himself in the record books on May 1, 2005, as the youngest player to ever score a goal for the franchise. That same year, he led Argentina to the title in the under-20 World Cup, scoring on a pair of penalty kicks to propel the team over Nigeria.
Messi eventually grew to 5 feet and 7 inches, and with his short stature, speed and relentless attacking style, he drew comparisons to another famous Argentinean footballer: Diego Maradona. Messi steered Barcelona to a wealth of success, most notably in 2009, when the left-footer's team captured the Champions League, La Liga, and Spanish Super Cup titles. That same year, after two consecutive runner-up finishes, he took home his first FIFA "World Player of the Year" honor/Ballon d'Or award.
Even the great Maradona gushed about his fellow countryman. "I see him as very similar to me," the retired player told the BBC. "He's a leader and is offering lessons in beautiful football. He has something different to any other player in the world."
Amazingly, the diminutive soccer wizard continued to improve, discovering new ways to elude defenders while leading Barcelona to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup championships in 2010 and 2011, as well as the '11 Champions League title.
Messi embarked on an all-out assault on the record books in 2012. He became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League match in early March, and a few weeks later he surpassed Cesar Rodriguez's club-record 232 goals to become Barcelona's all-time leading scorer. By the end of 2012, Messi had accumulated an astounding 91 goals in club and international play, eclipsing the 85 netted in a single calendar year by Gerd Muller in 1972. Fittingly, he broke one more record when he was named the FIFA Ballon d'Or winner for the fourth time in January 2013.

 

Activism and Fatherhood

Almost universally regarded as the best player in the game, the boyish Messi has become the commercial face of soccer with endorsements from Adidas, Pepsi, EA Sports and Turkish Airways, among other companies. Having signed an extension with Barcelona that guarantees him a base salary of approximately $21 million per year through 2018, he is one of the world's highest-paid athletes.
Although he is famously quiet and private off the field, Messi has found ways to help out others in need. In 2007, he formed the Leo Messi Foundation to provide opportunities for disadvantaged youths. In early 2010, UNICEF named him a goodwill ambassador, with a focus on fighting for children's rights across the globe.
Messi became a father in November 2012, when his girlfriend, Antonella Roccuzzo, gave birth to their son, Thiago.