【明報專訊】Lionel Andres Messi (美斯), a professional soccer player, was born on 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. Messi, who stands just 5-feet and 7-inches, got his start in the game at the age of eight when he started playing for the Newell's Old Boys. Recognizably smaller than most of the boys he played with, Messi was eventually diagnosed (診斷) by doctors as suffering from a hormone deficiency (不足) that restricted his growth.