Soccer in His Veins
From his early childhood in Rosario, Argentina, Messi knew that soccer was his true passion. At the tender age of eight, he was selected to join the youth system of his hometown club, Newell's Old Boys.
While Messi dedicated himself to making a name for himself on the field during his time in the youth academy, soccer was not his sole focus. He also formed friendships that would profoundly shape his life. One individual who would have an enduring influence was his childhood friend, Lucas Scaglia.
