It was some time in 1991,he was barely 4yrs when Celia,his grandmother was arguing with his coach to put his grandson in match meant for people older than him

"Let him play" Celia said and the coach refused and it led to exchange of words...She insisted!

#OdogwuTales
#Messi33

They were a man short and needed to win the game, so the coach accepted and put in the tiny looking 4yr old in the match...

He went on to score 2goals in that match and his grandmother just sat and stared at his coach who was shocked!!!

That was just the BEGINNING...

From a poor family background where his mother was a cleaner and father, a factory steel worker.

The one thing this kid could do exceptionally well was football, so at age of 4, he started playing football with his grandmother Celia taking him to all his games.

START EARLY!!!

By age 8, he was signed by NEWELL OLD BOYS CLUB thanks to the support of his grandmother who later passed on 2yrs later.

The young kid refused playing football again, it took persuasion from his father, he decided to make his grand mum proud.

GRIEF SHOULDN'T BE AN EXCUSE...

He dreamt of becoming a professional footballer and decided to dedicate every single goal he scores to the memory of his grandmother.

But just before this dream could start, he was diagnosed of having a "Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD)" at age 11..

LIFE IS FULL OF UPS AND DOWN!

GHD meant his body wasn't producing enough growth hormone to make him tall...unless he received the artificial growth hormone.

The artificial growth hormone was about 350k ($900) a month and needed it for atleast 3yrs...

His dreams were falling apart...

NOTHING GOOD COMES EASY

His father was poor and his club refused to pay for his treatment but the young lad remained undeterred.

He continued playing football with passion, he was the smallest in the team but at the same time...The Best.

His talent shone and clubs came calling but...

KEEP AT IT!!!

They all rejected him because of his growth disorder but he still kept at it...for his granny

He was noticed by an agent of Camp Nou who promised his parents that "The Catalans" would pay for his medical bills if he passed a trial...

EVERY GREAT OPPORTUNITY COMES WITH A TRIAL!

On the trial day, the young man was so good that the agent made him sign on a napkin as there was no paper around to make sure he doesn't leave.

He moved with his family to Spain at the age of 12. His talent was making way for him and his family

TALENT...EVERYONE HAS ONE!!!

The club invested in him, paid for his medical bills for years and in return the young man worked his socks off...

Today he is one of the highest paid footballers in the world and arguably one of the best footballers...

HE WORKED HARD...TALENT WITHOUT HARD WORK IS BARREN!!!

And for the club that invested in him when no one wanted him.He has won it all for them!!!

For his grandmother, he points to the sky in appreciation anytime he scores...he has scores 699goals..wow

APPRECIATE...SHOW GRATITUDE
INVEST IN THOSE THAT INVEST IN YOU!

Today we celebrate a player that rose from a poor background,fought against rejection caused by a health disorder to become one of the best in his field.

Today we celebrate LIONEL ANDRES MESSI as he celebrates his 33rd birthday...

YOU HAVE TO FIGHT TO REACH YOUR DREAMS...FIGHT!