Lionel Messi overcame seemingly insuperable odds to get to become the legend he is today. He came from a poor family and had growth deficiency problems which, due to his financial circumstances, he had to be helped by an insurance company and then by his financially strapped parents t trear. A Barcelona personal director spotted Messi during this time, flew him to Spain and the rest is one of the greatest soccer histories ever."What I do is play soccer," Messi says, "which is what I like." And he does play football, with such grace and command that utterly awes.
He is strong in character; never loses his composure, no matter how bad things are. He is poised, confident and above all - is always so humble and down to earth, that one can't help but like the man. And he always has that smile. And very much unlike many of today's sportsmen, especially footballers, he doesn't put on earrings or have dreadlocks or dye his hairs or dress in any weird way or act flamboyantly. That is how Pele was; and so, as outspoken and radical as he was, was Muhammad Ali. Like the two, Lionel is a people's champion; and for today's youth, like Pele and Ali during their time, a role model. A role model that today's young can emulate.
