Who doesn’t know Lionel Messi? This Argentine soccer player has a big name. Even people who don’t really like football know Messi. This Argentine national team player was born in the city of Rosario, Argentina with the full name Lionel Andres Messi Cuccittini.

Before becoming the player he is now, this 33-year-old player did have talent and interest in football since he was young. Little Messi was even a featured player who joined the Newell’s Old Boys junior team from 1995 to 2000. But who would have thought, Messi’s life and success soared after he moved to the Barcelona junior team? Let’s see how his career journey!

Not many people know that Lionel Messi’s career and success in life ‘started’ from a napkin

For some people, napkins serve as cutlery. But for some people napkins are important. One of the people who achieved success thanks to napkins is Lionel Messi. It is said that the process of moving Messi from Newell’s Old Boys junior team to Barcelona went quite tough.

When the agreement began to reach a bright spot, Barcelona Technical Director Carles “Charly” Rexach and Messi were confused about writing an official statement because there was no paper. All that was in place were napkins. As a result, the agreement was written on the napkin. On the napkin was written the transfer agreement for Messi on December 14, 2000. Who would have thought that Messi’s success started with a napkin?

Messi had a talent for playing football since childhood, but he honed it through hard work and practice. As a result, he became Barcelona’s top scorer in the club’s history

Messi is a player known to be agile and very talented at playing the ball. This is a natural talent that Messi has had from birth. But Messi is aware that success can only be achieved with hard work. While joining the Barcelona team, football fans have seen Messi change year after year. All of that is the result of his hard work.

The results of that hard work are starting to show. To this day, Messi has the most goals for Barcelona in history. Because of his success at the club, Messi was later appointed captain of the Argentina national team. At the age of 21 Messi has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year. All the success that Messi has received since he was young is the result of hard work by giving his all throughout the game. No wonder there is a special joy when we see the ball at Messi’s feet.

Once underestimated because of his short stature, Messi proved to himself that he has a strong mentality. He also always learns to accept defeat which gives him the achievement of being the world’s best player three times

Messi’s career has not always been smooth sailing. He was even belittled by other players because of his short stature. Over the years he has always faced tough players with bigger stature than him. This is an obstacle as well as a whip for Messi’s career. He managed to prove himself better than people who were taller than him. Messi is a player with a mental toughness of steel.

Apart from being mentally strong, Messi is also a person who is weak and able to accept defeat, no matter how bad the failure is. In 2012, Messi’s name was blasphemed and destroyed after he and the Barcelona team lost to Chelsea in the Champions League. Messi then managed to rise from adversity. The result of his behavior is an achievement. Messi became the fourth player to win three Ballon d’Or trophies and the second player to win the Ballon d’Or twice in a row in 2010 and 2011.

What distinguishes Messi from his rivals is the humble attitude and loyalty he shows to the club that has made his name known. Messi has 16 years of career in the Barcelona professional team

Unlike most other successful players, Messi is a player who is quite loyal. If other players often move between clubs, Messi is someone who is loyal to the Barcelona club. Many other clubs have offered him a move with a much larger income, but he remains loyal to Barcelona. Counting Messi has 16 years since 2005 to defend the professional team of the city of Catalonia.

Even so, Messi is a humble player. He doesn’t talk much. His treatment was so gentle and humble. Messi is also a footballer who often helps people in trouble. Because according to Messi, success is not about money, but about the opportunity to help people who really need it.

So, that’s a success story and what we can learn from the figure of Lionel Messi. Hopefully, Messi can continue his career and return to show his best game again to football fans around the world. Amen!