5 Lesser-Known Facts About Lionel Messi

Napkin Contract
Messi's first Barcelona agreement was famously written on a paper napkin.
Growth Hormone Treatment
He received treatment for a growth hormone deficiency as a child.
Italian Roots
Messi's family has ancestry from Italy's Marche region.
Rejected Spain
He turned down Spain to represent Argentina.
Signed at 14
Messi landed his first Adidas sponsorship deal at just 14, years before becoming a global football icon.