Another year, another Uefa Champions league.
Is there any soccer fan out there?
Oh! So here u are, one of those millions, whose images I have seen going gung ho every time ur fave club or country strikes a goal. Or are you the one who religiously follow the game telecast in the dead of night. Or both!
Talking about me, I don’t fit into neither of the descriptions. I m a newbie to the world of soccer, still don’t understand the nitty-gritty of the game. Like my other firsts, the Uefa Champions League match b/t Chelsea and Barcelona was my first hand experience of the sport. Totally clueless about both teams, like a rookie, I sat down for my first ever soccer watching expedition.
The players came out on the field, Stamford Bridge reverberated with national anthems of both sides. Here, I won’t give any analysis of the game which the Spanish visitors won. I m also not writing this piece out of love for the game or the greatness of Barca players some of whom like Ronaldihino or Samuel Eto’o require no mention, but what caught my eyes was eccentric 18 yr-old Lionel Messi.
Standing at 169 cms, he may appear diminutive but his skills and swiftness left me dazed.
The Start
Born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, Messi started playing football at tender age of five. But was soon diagnosed with a hormonal problem that was preventing his growth, due to which the career of this budding footballer came to a halt. His father planned to move to Catalino to earn money to finance his Euro 750-a-month treatment. In order to raise money for his treatment Messi’s family move to Spain. He was playing in Spain when Barca heard about Leo and after excellent scout reports stepped in to pay his medical bills and signed him.
The Rising
No doubt Messi is a prodigy, he progressed spectacularly through different youth games. In September 2000, he got his first opportunity with Barca and didn’t disappoint scoring five goals in his first match. During his first season at Barca he scored 37 goals in 30 matches.
The Dream Debut
Messi made his first appearance in an official match on Oct 16, 2004 against Espanyol at Olympic stadium. On May 1, 2005 he became a regular feature of Barca squad and the youngest to ever score a league goal for FC Barcelona at the age of 17 years, 10 months and 7 days.
The Contract
In September 2005, Messi was given an improved and extended contract till 2014 and his buy-out clause is Euro 150 million, same as Ronaldihino. Phew!!
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho may have accused Messi of being an ‘actor’ as it was Messi who messed up with Chelsea’s Del Horno, for which Del Horno was given a red card but this youngster with fast legs and a sharper mind is someone to look out for.
Watch out for Lionel Messi, whom u would find in a 30 numbered jersey, in the next Uefa Champions league match on March 28/29 2006 when Barcelona takes on Benfica in the first leg of the Quarters.
Good things come in small packages!!!
A bit of cliché but as true as other clichés in the world!