Lionel Messi

My hero is Lionel Messi, the best soccer player in the world. He made me persevere in soccer, and my courage paid off. Messi was born in Argentina, and he plays for its international team. His club team is F.C. Barcelona, and it has won the most games in Spanish Primera.

Messi has gotten many awards in his life, and he will achieve much more. Messi's team has won many cups, and this is their coach's first year coaching Barcelona. Messi won the best player award in 2009 and the best striker. Messi not only is the best player, but he was born in a very awesome place, Argentina. He was born June 24, 1987, in a town called Rosario. At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency that slowed him from growing. Being short didn't stop Messi from playing soccer, and it will not stop me.

Messi declined playing for the Spanish national team because he wanted to play for his home country. He got to play for Argentina in 2004 against Paraguay. Most of the time he lives in Barcelona playing for their club team. The most important part of Messi to me is how he became my hero.

One game a few months ago I watched Messi play against the Seattle Sounders. He trapped the ball on his chest, rolled it down his leg, shot and scored. Then it hit me how good it can be if you just practice. The next few times I played soccer I asked my coach, "Let's work on trapping." His answer was, "Will it make you better? I responded, "Yes."

After I saw Messi play I tried really hard, wanting to get better, but nothing happened that I noticed. Thankfully, somebody did, my coach. Five of the twenty-five kids on our team got asked to join Olympic Development program, and I was one of them. O.D.P is where the best people from your state play together. The only way I made it is because I looked up to a hero I knew could help. My hero Lionel Messi is an amazing soccer player and he helped me achieve my goal of getting better at that sport. In fifteen years I want to still be playing soccer and having fun.