Born with a football at his feet, Messi's journey began in Rosario, Argentina. He played for a local club, Newell's Old Boys, as a youngster. However, his immense talent needed a bigger stage, leading him to Barcelona's famed La Masia academy. Despite facing growth hormone deficiency, his determination never wavered, and Barcelona took a chance on him, paying for his treatment. The rest, as they say, is history.