Lionel Messi Family

Messi was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, to parents Jorge Horacio Messi, a factory steel worker and Celia Maria Cuccitini, a part time cleaner. His parental family originates from the Italian city of Ancona. His ancestor emigrated to Argentina in 1883. He has two elder brothers, Rodrigo and Metias and a sister Maria Sol.

At the age of five Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge. At the age of 11 Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona was made aware of his talent through one of Messi’s relatives. Rexach, with no other paper at hand, offered Messi a contact written on a paper napkin. Messi and his father duly moved to Barcelona, where Messi enrolled in the clubs youth academy.