英语名人堂：里奥内尔·安德雷斯·梅西
2000年，梅西加入巴塞罗那俱乐部。2005年，阿根廷青年队夺取世青赛冠军，梅西赢得了金球奖和金靴奖双项大奖。2007年4月18日，梅西在国王杯半决赛对赫塔菲时复制了马拉多纳在世界杯上的连过五人进球。2008年北京奥运会上，梅西随阿根廷国奥队夺取了金牌。2009年底，他当选了欧洲足球先生和世界足球先生。梅西2008-2009赛季率领球队连夺西甲、国王杯和欧冠三个冠军。2011年，梅西获得首届国际足联金球奖，还获得了欧足联欧洲最佳球员。2013年，他以46粒联赛进球的成绩第三次获得欧洲金靴奖奖杯。2014年，梅西随阿根廷队参加2014巴西世界杯。2014年巴西世界杯上，获得世界杯亚军[1] 。
2014年12月20日，梅西被IFFHS评为2013年世界职业联赛的最佳射手奖[2] 。2015年8月，当选欧洲超级杯最佳球员。[3]
2015年8月27日，欧洲冠军联赛小组赛抽签暨欧洲最佳球员颁奖典礼在蒙特卡洛的格里马尔迪会议中心举行，梅西获得欧洲最佳球员。[4]
2016年1月12日，梅西荣膺2015年度FIFA金球奖，五度得奖创纪录。[5]
2016年6月，在连续三次决赛(2014年世界杯、2015年美洲杯、2016年美洲杯)失利后，梅西正式宣布将退出阿根廷国家队。[6]
Lionel Andrés Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in the city of Rosario, Argentina. Everyone knows him now as the best football player in the world. In fact, a lot of people say he might become the greatest player ever. We’ll see about that at the World Cup. Messi is FIFA World Player of the Year. He also helped his club team Barcelona win the European Champions League and the World Club Championship.
Messi grew up playing football. He joined his first club when he was five. At the age of eight, he signed up for the famous Newell's Old Boys' youth team. His career nearly ended when doctors found out he suffered from a growth hormone deficiency. Luckily, agents from Barcelona saw his talent and in 2000, he moved to Spain. The Catalan club paid for his medical treatment and coached him until he made his Barcelona debut.
Lionel started breaking records as soon as he played his first game for Barcelona in the 2004-05 season. He became the youngest footballer ever to play a La Liga game and the youngest to score a goal. He helped his team win the league in his first season, and the league and Champions League double in the following season. In the 2008-09 season he scored an impressive 38 goals as Barcelona won the treble.
Messi has an amazing career ahead of him. He is set to shine in South Africa. Many football experts compare him to the legendary Pele and Maradona. This World Cup could be the stage for him to show people he really is the best. His skills on the ball, ability to get past defenders and his goal-scoring are breathtaking. Top soccer coach Arsene Wenger said Messi is “like a PlayStation. He takes advantage of every mistake teams make”.
