26 Things You Didn't Know About Lionel Messi

Happy Birthday, Lionel Messi!

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Lionel Messi—the world’s greatest footballer—turns 26 years old today, which is kind of hard to believe considering it feels like he has been dominating the game forever. The former prodigy who debuted for the Barcelona senior team at the tender age of 17 rapidly rose to his status as one of the most recognized athletes in the world. He has made even the most talented of opponents look foolish with his incredible foot skills and dazzling finishing ability. Messi has set numerous records along the way, and by the time he's done he surely will have added countless others. While much is known about the Argentinian star, some of the more incredible facts about his life and career go largely overlooked. Here are 26 Things You Didn't Know About Lionel Messi.

His infant son is already an official member of the Newell's Old Boys' supporters club.

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He shares the record for most international goals scored in a calendar year.

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He is the only player in history to win three European Golden Boots.

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He has two cousins who also play professionally.

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A Messi-themed biopic will be premiering just in time for the 2014 World Cup.

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The buyout clause in his Barcelona contract is for a staggering €250 million.

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He was ranked ahead of David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's richest footballer in 2012.

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He maintains daily contact with his teammates from his youth team in Argentina.

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He is already tied for the second-most goals in the history of the Argentina national team (35 in 82 appearances).

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He is the first player in history to score in consecutive matches against every team in his league.

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He holds the world record for consecutive league matches with a goal (21).

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He has already become Barcelona's leading scorer in club history, setting the record in March 2012 at age 24.

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He, not Diego Maradona, was the first Argentinian ever to be named FIFA World Player of the Year.

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He scored his own "Hand of God" goal in 2006-07 vs. Espanyol.

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He is the youngest player ever to score in the legendary "El Clasico" rivalry.

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At 17 years and 114 days, he was the youngest player ever to appear in a La Liga game.

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River Plate could have signed him as a youth, but refused to pay his $900 per month medical bills.

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He is the only player in history to win the Ballon d'Or four times.

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Between his contract and endorsements, he makes about $128,000 per day.

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His youth team at Newell's Old Boys in Argentina lost one game in four years.

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He refuses to watch video highlights of himself.

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His 2005 international debut lasted 47 seconds when he received a red card after coming on as a substitute.

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He was offered (and declined) a spot on the Spain national team in 2004, preferring to play for Argentina.

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His first contract was signed on a napkin.

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Barcelona was so impressed with Messi's footskills that they offered to pay his medical bills and move the family to Spain just to sign him when he was 13.

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He is small partly because of a growth hormone deficiency discovered when he was 11.

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