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Messi

The must-read biography of the World Cup champion, now fully updated
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( 1,023 ratings, 64 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Messi by Guillem Balague is a detailed biography of the legendary footballer Lionel Messi. The book chronicles Messi's rise from a young boy in Rosario, Argentina, to becoming a global icon in football. It offers insights into his personal life, incredible career achievements, and his impact on the sport.
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Format: Paperback / softback

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the life and career of one of football's greatest players. This biography provides an in-depth look at his journey, triumphs, and challenges both on and off the pitch, giving fans a comprehensive insight into his extraordinary talent and determination.

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Messi

The story of one of the greatest footballers of all time, Argentina's Lionel Messi. Updated to include the inside story of his 2022 World Cup Triumph and his dramatic transfer from PSG to Inter Miami.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
'I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi' Diego Maradona

FULLY UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE 2022 WORLD CUP TRIUMPH & MESSI'S TRANSFER TO INTER MIAMI

As Lionel Messi raised the World Cup triumphantly into the air, the world watched on in awe. Messi's final peak conquered; his final dream achieved. It was the fairy tale ending to a glittering career. Yet despite delivering Argentina their third World Cup, Messi's time at Paris Saint-Germain came to a dramatic conclusion, and Miami awaited the Argentinian legend.

Guillem Balague has had unprecedented access to Messi's inner circle including the player himself: his coaches, team-mates and family. From tracing the origins of Messi's precocious talent in Rosario, Argentina, to chronicling his peerless seventeen-season career at Barcelona, and his tumultuous Parisian adventure, Guillem takes us behind-the-scenes of Messi's World Cup triumph and his long-desired move to the MLS. This is an epic, authoritative and compelling account of an enigmatic footballing genius.

The book delves deeply into Messi's life, beginning from his early days as a young boy with a dream in Rosario, through the challenges he faced with growth hormone deficiency, and the steadfast family support that propelled him to join FC Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia. It maps out his incredible journey to becoming one of the greatest footballers ever to play the game, painting a vivid picture of his unmatched skills, dedication, and the moments that defined his career.

Furthermore, Balague offers insight into the personal aspects of Messi's life, his relationships with family and teammates, and the weight of the expectations placed upon him. The triumphs and tribulations of his stellar stint at Barcelona, his record-breaking performances, the legendary rivalries with other football greats, and the emotional highs and lows are meticulously documented.

With his move to Paris Saint-Germain, fans witnessed a new chapter that brought its own set of challenges and victories. The narrative carries through to his eventual role in leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, weaving in the tension and jubilation that accompanied this historic win.

Concluding with Messi's groundbreaking transfer to Inter Miami, the book opens a new window into what might lie ahead for this football icon. This latest evolution of his career is examined with both excitement and introspection, reflecting on how his legacy continues to evolve.

'I can tell my grandkids one day that I coached Lionel Messi' Pep Guardiola

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Messi by Guillem Balague delves deeply into the fascinating backstory of the football legend, offering interesting insights especially regarding Argentinian politics, culture, and mores. It includes extended testimonies from coaches and mentors who have influenced Messi's career.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781399619134

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Seven Dials

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 52.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 600g

Pages: 784

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About the Author

Guillem Balague is an award-winning football author, journalist and presenter who works regularly for BBC Radio 5 Live, LaLiga TV and the American network CBS. In his previous role at Sky Sports, he was a key fixture of their Spanish football coverage for over twenty years, known for his regular appearances on Sky Sports News,

'Revista de LaLiga', his punditry work and being the go-to man for anything relating to the Spanish transfer market. He has his own YouTube channel, 1.2m+ followers on social media, his own podcast (Pure Football) and gives Master Classes in journalism at UCFB University in Wembley (London) and the Etihad stadium in Manchester.

He wrote the bestselling A Season on the Brink, an insider's account of Liverpool's 2004-05 Champions' League winning campaign. In November 2012, he published the first international biography of Pep Guardiola, based on conversations with him, shortlisted for Football Book of the Year, as were his following four books. The following year, he published Messi: The Definitive Biography, the first complete biography of the Argentinian star. As well as two ebooks (diaries of the 2012 European Championships and the 2014 World Cup), he published the Official History of FC Barcelona in the autumn of 2014. In November 2015, he wrote Cristiano Ronaldo: the Biography which won the Football Book of the Year Award at the British Sports Book Awards and the Best Football Book of 2016 in Poland. His latest books Brave New World - Inside Pochettino's Spurs and Maradona were Sunday Times bestsellers in the UK. He is also chairman of non-league Biggleswade FC.

Follow Guillem at:

- www.guillembalague.com

- www.facebook.com/guillembalague

- www.instagram.com/guillembalague

- www.twitter.com/GuillemBalague

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