Beginning
Lionel Messi started playing football at a very early age for his hometown club. From the age of 11, he suffered from a growth hormone deficiency3. At only 1.40m, Messi was extremely small and slight for his age. As his parents were unable to pay for treatment in Argentina, they decided to move to Barcelona, Spain. Shortly after arriving, Lionel tried his luck with a trial at FC Barcelona4, despite being only 13 years of age. He excelled at5 the trial and they offered to pay for his treatments if he joined them. He rapidly found himself starting for the Barcelona B team, averaging more than a goal per game.
In October 2004 Messi made his official debut for the first team against RCD Espanyol6, becoming the third-youngest player to ever play for FC Barcelona. And when Messi scored his first goal for the club against Albacete Balompié7 on May 1, 2005, he was only 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old.
Argentina U-208
Messi was offered the chance to play for the Spanish national side, but he declined, preferring to wait for the opportunity to play for the country of his birth. In June 2004 he got his chance, playing in an under-20 friendly match against Paraguay9.
In June 2005 Messi starred for the Argentina U-20 team that won the Football World Youth Championship in Netherlands, picking up the Golden Boot as top scorer with 6 goals, and the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament.
Being compared to Diego Maradona, Messi said, “I have to go slowly as always and try to do my best, Diego is the biggest and I have always said that it is an honor to be compared with him but I believe that I have still a lot to learn and a long way to go yet. The only advice that he gave me was to enjoy it and keep progressing.”
World Cup 2006
Despite his injury, Messi was selected in the Argentina team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup on May 15, 2006. Messi witnessed Argentina's opening match win against Ivory Coast10 from the bench. In the next match against Serbia and Montenegro11, he came on as a substitute for Maxi Rodríguez in the 74th minute. In doing so he became the youngest player to represent Argentina at a World Cup. He assisted Hernan Crespo's12 goal within minutes of entering the game and also scored the final goal in the 6-0 victory. This goal made him the youngest scorer in the 2006 World Cup and the sixth youngest scorer in World Cup history.
Injuries
Football is a violent game and players get hurt easily. Messi is no exception. In a game against Zaragoza13, Messi got a serious bone fracture14. This is the second serious injury Leo has picked up, after a muscle tear suffered in a Champions League clash with Chelsea back in February, 2006. He needs surgery and the estimated15 time he will be out of action is approximately three months. But Messi remains optimistic and not too worried about his situation. After receiving the surgery, he said to the journalists: “I'm feeling better now. I'm calm and not in pain. Now I just have to let time go by. The worst bit (the surgery) is over, and from now on it's time to stay calm and be patient.”
His Friendship with Ronaldinho
Messi plays alongside brilliant player Ronaldinho, who forgot about the traditional rivalry16 between Brazilians and Argentines to befriend Messi.
“Ronnie was massively important for me,” Messi said. “I was so young when I started to come into Barcelona's dressing room, but he made a point of17 being first to step up to me and look after me.” “I try to copy little things Ronaldinho does but more fundamentally18 I just try to play for the joy of it. Playing football has always meant joy for me and that's why I do it. Of course, it's easier when you're winning.”
起步阶段
里奥内尔·梅西很小的时候就开始为家乡的俱乐部踢球。11岁的时候，他被确诊患有生长激素缺乏症。当时身高只有1米4的梅西， 看起来要比同龄人瘦小很多。由于梅西的父母难以承受在阿根廷昂贵的治疗费用，他们决定举家搬往西班牙的巴塞罗那。到西班牙后不久，年仅13岁的梅西就来到巴塞罗那俱乐部的训练营碰运气。由于他在试训期间的出色表现，巴塞罗那俱乐部同意只要他加盟就会帮他支付治疗费用。很快，梅西就在巴塞罗那B队中找到了感觉，平均每场比赛的进球数在一个以上。
2004年10月，梅西在巴萨与西班牙人的一场比赛中上演了自己在巴萨一线队的处子秀，成为巴塞罗那俱乐部历史上第三年轻的上场队员。2005年5月1日，梅西在巴萨与阿尔巴塞特的联赛中攻入了他在联赛中的第一球，当时他才年仅17岁10个月零7天。
阿根廷20岁以下青年队之秀
梅西曾有机会为西班牙国家队效力，但他谢绝了。他更愿意等待机会为自己的国家效力。2004年6月，梅西得到机会，在阿根廷20岁以下青年队与巴拉圭队的一场友谊赛中出场。
2005年6月在荷兰世界青年足球锦标赛上，梅西带领阿根廷青年队一举摘取金球，他自己也凭借6粒进球荣获最佳射手金靴奖，并成为本届比赛的最佳球员。
当有人把梅西比做马拉多纳的时候，他这样说道：“我将一如既往，尽力做到最好。迭戈是一位伟大的球员，能够把我和他相比，是我的荣幸。但是要达到他那样的高水平，我还有很多东西要学，还有很长的一段路要走。迭戈给我的建议就是享受足球，不断进步。”
2006世界杯之旅
尽管有伤在身，梅西还是在2006年5月15日入选阿根廷国家队世界杯名单。在阿根廷首场与科特迪瓦的比赛中，梅西在板凳席上见证了阿根廷队的胜利。在第二场与塞黑的比赛中，梅西在第74分钟作为马克西·罗德里格斯的替补上场，因此成为阿根廷国家队历史上参加世界杯的最年轻球员。梅西上场后不久就助攻赫尔南·克雷斯波打入一球。他自己也攻入本队最后一球，从而使阿根廷队以6∶0的大比分赢得比赛。凭借这一进球，梅西成为2006年世界杯上最年轻的射手，同时也成为世界杯历史上位列第六的年轻射手。
伤病困扰
足球是一项高强度体育运动，球员很容易受伤，梅西也不例外。在与萨拉戈萨的比赛中，梅西严重骨折。这是他继2006年2月在冠军联赛巴萨与切尔西的比赛中拉伤肌肉后所受的又一次重伤。这一次，梅西需要接受手术治疗。据估计，他至少要过大约三个月才能恢复。但是对于自己的伤势，梅西并不十分担心，依然保持乐观。术后，他这样对记者说：“现在我感觉好多了，我平静下来，不再受疼痛的煎熬。最糟糕的事（指手术）已经结束了，现在我所需要做的就是安心养伤，平心静气地度过这段时期。”
与罗纳尔迪尼奥的友谊
在巴塞罗那俱乐部，梅西与另外一位天才球员罗纳尔迪尼奥并肩战斗。这位球员将巴西队与阿根廷队长期以来的对手关系置于一旁，成为梅西的朋友。
梅西说：“罗尼对我来说实在是太重要了。当年幼的我第一次走进巴塞罗那俱乐部的更衣室时，是罗尼第一个站出来与我打招呼并开始照顾我。我试图去模仿他的几个小把戏，但是从根本上说，我这么做只是为了找些乐子。踢球本身对我而言就是一种快乐，这就是我为什么选择从事这项运动的原因。当然，在你赢球的时候，这种快乐更容易体会得到。”
1. hail v. 热情地承认某人为…
2. class n. <口>高质量，优秀，优异
3. growth hormone deficiency 生长激素缺乏症，是由生长激素缺乏或分泌不足而导致的一种生长障碍性疾病。
4. FC Barcelona: Barcelona Football Club，巴塞罗那俱乐部
5. excel at 擅长于（某项活动），在（某方面）表现杰出
6. RCD Espanyol （西班牙的）西班牙人俱乐部
7. Albacete Balompié （西班牙的）阿尔巴塞特俱乐部
8. U-20 即Under 20，指20岁以下青年队
9. Paraguay n. 巴拉圭（南美洲中部国国家）
10. Ivory Coast 象牙海岸，1989年更名为科特迪瓦共和国，位于非洲西部。
11. Serbia and Montenegro 塞黑共和国
12. Hernan Crespo 克雷斯波，阿根廷前锋
13. Zaragoza （西班牙）萨拉戈萨俱乐部
14. bone fracture 骨折 fracture n. 破裂，骨折
15. estimated adj. 估计的
16. rivalry n. 竞争关系，敌对状态
17. make a point of 重视，强调做…
18. fundamentally adv. 从基础上，根本
19. motivation n. 动机，动力
20. laurel n. 桂冠，殊荣
21. pitch n. 球场
22. in motion 处于兴奋状态
23. Spanish Liga 西班牙足球甲级联赛。共20支队伍参加，采取主客场制，共有38轮。甲级联赛的最后三支球队降入乙级联赛。
24. ritual n. 例行公事，老规矩，习惯
25. spotlight n. 聚光灯,公众注意的焦点