Lionel Messi

messi celebrating (blogs.independent.co.uk ())

What is a hero? Well in my opinion, to be a hero you have to be 3 things... successful, compassionate and must be a good role model. That is why I chose the Argentinean soccer player, Lionel Messi. Messi is 24 years old and currently plays for the soccer team FC Barcelona.

First off, Lionel Messi is very successful. For one, Messi has won the most awards for his age. His biggest award is probably winning the FIFA world player of the year award for the past three years. This is an incredible achievement because he is so young. His main competition, Cristiano Ronaldo, has only won it once and he is 27. Messi is also on one of the best soccer teams in the world, FC Barcelona; they have won almost everything they can in club soccer in the past 5 years. With Messi on their team, he has led them to, winning La Liga 5 times, Copa Del Ray twice, Supercopa De Espana 5 times, UEFA Champions League 3 times, the UEFA Super Cup twice, and finally the FIFA Club World Cup twice.  Messi's monthly salary is $3,250,000 and his yearly salary is $39,000,000.He is among the top paid footballers in the world!

Messi is also a great role model. When Messi was 11, he was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency, which without treatment would not allow him to grow taller. Even though Messi was a great soccer player, no clubs wanted to pick him up because of his medical bills. This all changed one day when Messi was playing for his local team at the park. A South American scout for the football club FC Barcelona heard about this boy and his talent, so he decided to go watch him play in the park. The scout was very impressed by Messi's skill and agility. After the game, the scout went up to Lionel and his father and asked him to come and try out in Barcelona. If he made the academy team, all of his medical bills would be paid for. Luckily, he did make the youth team. He played for FC Barcelona's youth academy until he was 16. When he was 16, he made his first appearance for FC Barcelona's full squad. Messi is a role model to me because I am also very short and his story makes me feel like I can make it pro someday too if I work hard enough.

Messi is also very compassionate. Some may think that Messi is only a great soccer player and he has nothing else to offer the world. However, Messi is very kind and generous. During his free time, Messi likes to go and visit kids in hospitals or go play soccer with some random guys down at the park. He also likes to go home to Argentina a lot and see his family and old friends. Messi is not just a soccer player; he is a normal guy who lives life to the fullest.

In conclusion, Messi is a great person and a great role model. Many people look up to him and he is very successful in what he does. I hope to see him continue to succeed and not get to overly cocky and feel like he is the best. Messi is a great person and I hope to be like him someday. Thank you for taking your time and reading my essay!

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