Lionel Messi: Football Legend

Lionel Messi is a living football legend: world champion, an eight-time winner of the “Ballon d’Or,” and the idol of millions. But once, he was simply a boy from Rosario, whose doctors told him: you’re too small—your dream will never come true.

A shortage of growth hormone, expensive treatment, and mockery—but his love for football proved stronger. This book is the story of a person who didn’t give up when the whole world was against him, and became the very best of the best.

Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time. World champion, a two-time winner of the Copa América, and an Olympic champion. An eight-time winner of the “Ballon d’Or” and a six-time winner of the “Golden Boot.” His name is known throughout the world. And even the legendary Diego Maradona bowed before his talent.

Now he is a living football legend. But once, Leo was an ordinary boy from the Argentine city of Rosario, who spent all day chasing the ball in the yard with his friends. At 11, he was told that his dream of becoming a footballer might never come true: doctors discovered he had a growth hormone deficiency, and he was too small for this sport. He faced difficult and costly treatment—he was shorter and weaker than the other kids—but he loved football so much that he never gave up for a single minute… and became the very best of the best!