His nickname is La Pulga, or La Pulga Atomica - The Atomic Flea. He is 5 ft 7.
He had a growth deficiency as a child and needed steroids to help him reach his full size.
Some Argentines don't like him and refer to him as The Catalan.
Argentina president Mauricio Macri said "It is a gift from God to have the best player in the world in a footballing country like ours... Lionel Messi is the greatest thing we have in Argentina and we must take care of him."
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