Player » Lionel Messi

The scouts of Spanish powerhouse Barcelona made one of the best long-term investments when they agreed to pay for the medical treatments for a 13-year old soccer prodigy from Argentina. After a fast progression through Barcelona's youth academy, Lionel Messi made his competitive debut in October 2004 at age 17. Since then he has become one of the most prolific goal scorers in history and has led the Barca to eight La Liga titles and seven Supercopa de Espa?ola championships, and has won enough awards to stock his own museum.

Having any type of collection of sports memorabilia without a few items from one of the greatest athletes in the world is unthinkable. We offer a vast selection of authentic, certified and autographed Messi must-haves, including action photos from Barcelona and team Argentina, balls, boots, jerseys, as well as original artwork.

Many observers believe the five-time FIFA Ballon d'Or (player of the year) runs faster with the ball than without it. His ball skills are second to none, his runs from midfield are usually lethal and he is almost impossible to tackle when he gets his head down. Messi?s superior agility allows him to change directions with ease allowing the man Spanish sportswriters call ?The Atomic Flea? to avoid even the most determined defenders.

Playing on Argentina?s national team at the youth level, he won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, finishing the tournament with both the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe awards, and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. His style of play as a diminutive, left-footed dribbler has drawn comparisons with countryman Diego Maradona, who declared the then-teenager his successor. Messi has saved space in wherever he stores all of his awards and championship plaques for the one prize he has yet to win, a World Cup for Argentina.