We take a look at five important facts about Barcelona striker Lionel Messi that you may not be aware of
Lionel Messi with his wife and kids. Picture Courtesy. Messi's Instagram
The Argentine forward is a true superstar of the game and one of the most famous players on the planet,u00e2u0080u00afbut here are some things you might not already know about him.
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1. He has scored at least seven goals against every other La Liga Santander team
All LaLiga teams naturally fear Messi when he comes up against them, with the No.10 having netted at least seven times against all 19 of the other sides currently in the top division. His favourite victim is Sevilla, against whom he has a whopping 37 goals in 38 appearances. Over his career, he has faced 40 different clubs in the Spanish top flight, with only three yet to concede against him: Cadiz, Murcia and Xerez.
2. He first played with fellow Barcelona captain Gerard Pique in 2000
Messi and his current Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique have spent most of their footballing lives together. They were both in the same team in Barcelona’s La Masia academy, along with Cesc Fàbregas – part of the so-called “generation of ‘87” and conquered almost every challenge in their path. It was clear from that early age that these players would go on to achieve great things and, although Pique spent time at Manchester United and Real Zaragoza before returning to Barcelona, they have both been in the Blaugrana first-team squad together since 2008, playing 471 matches together. Messi has only played more often alongside Sergio Busquets and Andrés Iniesta.
3. He pays tributes to his grandmother after every goal
The sight of Messi pointing towards the sky with both hands after scoring a goalu00e2u0080u00afhas become an almost weekly occurrence in LaLiga but not many people know its meaning. It is in fact a tribute to Grandmother Celia, who Messi credits with sparking his interest in football and supporting him as he took his first steps in the game. Sadly, she passed away in 1998 and never saw him play at the top level, but his iconic celebration ensures that her spirit lives on.u00e2u0080u00afu00e2u0080u00af
4. He could have played for Spain at international level
Messi has represented Argentinau00e2u0080u00afthroughout his internationalu00e2u0080u00afcareer,u00e2u0080u00afbut he could have been wearing the red of Spain had he accepted an offer to join the national team of the country where he has spent his entire professional career.u00e2u0080u00afAfter spending his childhood in Barcelona,u00e2u0080u00afhe was eligibleu00e2u0080u00afto play foru00e2u0080u00aftheu00e2u0080u00af2010 world champions, but Messi says the idea never crossed his mind. The rest, as they say, is history as he has gone on to become Argentina’s all-time top scorer with 70 goals.u00e2u0080u00afu00e2u0080u00afu00e2u0080u00af
5. His footballing idol was Pablo Aimar
Many up-and-coming players consider Messi as a role model,u00e2u0080u00afbut it’s easy to forget that he had an idol growing up too, just like any other aspiring footballer. His was fellow Argentina and former Valencia and Real Zaragoza playmaker Pablou00e2u0080u00afAimar. They faced each other in LaLiga onu00e2u0080u00afseveralu00e2u0080u00afoccasions, including on one special night in 2004 whenu00e2u0080u00afAimaru00e2u0080u00afcame up to the 17-year-old Messi, an unused sub on the night, after the game to offer him his shirt.u00e2u0080u00afHe still treasures that jersey to this day.u00e2u0080u00af
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