It was the 16th of October 2004, at the 82nd minute of the Catalan Derby, when Deco was substituted by a 17-year-old boy who featured the number "30’ on his back. During that night, only a few people would have predicted that the young boy would soon be wearing Barcelona’s number "10’. Even more so, no one would have foreseen that together with Xavi and Andres Iniesta, he would be forming a telepathic trio, which would be able to play some of the most entertaining football ever.
Being the son of a factory steel worker and a part-time cleaner, Messi’s life wasn’t exactly easy, especially when at 11 years old, he got diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. At this time, despite the fact that some clubs, such as River Plate, showed interest in Messi, they were not willing to pay for his treatment. However, FC Barcelona’s Sporting Director, Carles Rexach, gave Messi the opportunity to treat his condition, while his first ever contract was signed on a paper napkin.
Fourteen years later, Lionel Messi is arguably the best footballer in the world after collecting the Ballon d’Or for four consecutive times and is also a candidate for this year’s award, together with Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
The movie, which shall be released at the end of this year, is a documentary and amongst actors, shall also be including some football legends such as Johann Cruyff, Andreas Iniesta and Diego Armando Maradona.
