Messi Mania: The ultimate story of the world's greatest soccer star

by Luis Miguel Echegaray

Overview

“Tasty fare for readers inclined to hail the coming of soccer’s ‘Messi-ah.’” —Kirkus Reviews

Channel the grit, resilience, and positivity of soccer icon Lionel Messi as you trace his journey to become one of the greatest soccer players of all time.

Global superstar, FIFA Player of the Year, and TIME magazine’s Athlete of the Year Lionel Messi’s arrival in the States has brought inspiration, excitement, and star power to men’s soccer. In Messi Mania, discover the seismic effect Leo has had on MLS and global soccer, woven through with fascinating insights into his family background, childhood, teenage years, and career to date.

Messi’s career has been built on hard work, determination, and teamwork, but his early years in Argentina were tough, including personal challenges that almost ruined his dreams of becoming a pro soccer player. In this book by top soccer journalist, commentator, and lifelong fan Luis Miguel Echegaray, learn how Messi overcame these setbacks and went on to become one of the most successful, celebrated, and decorated soccer players ever.

Following his inspiring journey from Barcelona’s youth academy to World Cup triumph with Argentina and then to MLS club Inter Miami, Messi Mania is the ultimate one-stop guide to a motivating and inspiring global soccer star.

Also discover Messi’s:

• Brilliant breakthroughs – key points in Messi’s young soccer life that helped him rise to prominence
• Awesome playing style – from his renowned dribbling, match vision, and strategy to his astonishing goal-scoring abilities
• Incredible insights – from coaches, teammates, and experts on what makes him an exceptional and talented player
• Impact off the pitch – his charitable work, philanthropy, and business ventures
• Valuable takeaways – life lessons that young people can learn from the tenacious, generous, and down-to-earth role model.

No matter where you’re from or what your goals are—be inspired to chase your dreams, just like Leo Messi.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781836001201
Publisher:	Holler
Publication date:	03/04/2025
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.07(w) x 7.79(h) x (d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Luis Miguel Echegaray is a host, analyst, and writer for ESPN, ESPN FC, and ESPN Deportes. Formerly, he was a presenter, host, and writer for CBS Sports and before that, he worked at Sports Illustrated as a writer, presenter, and head of Latino content. Previous places of employment include Telemundo, The Guardian, and Vice. He lives in New York City with his wife Jen, a public school teacher.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD by Andrés Cantor
CHAPTER 1: A GAME-CHANGING MOVE
CHAPTER 2: FROM ANOTHER GALAXY, AND FROM HIS NEIGHBORHOOD
CHAPTER 3: A SUMMER OF MESSI MANIA
A quick guide to Messi's free kick style
Spotlight: The road to the Leagues Cup final
CHAPTER 4: A WIN AWAY FROM A MAJOR TROPHY
Lessons in keeping focus
Spotlight: How to interview a soccer superstar
CHAPTER 5: A MAGICAL KID WITH MESMERIZING TALENT
A quick guide to Messi's style of play in his very early years
CHAPTER 6: THIS KID IS GOING PLACES
Lessons in patience and perseverance
Spotlight: Messi's work off the pitch
Spotlight: The Messi effect
CHAPTER 7: INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Lessons in dealing with injury
Spotlight: Messi the jet-setter
CHAPTER 8: A BRAZILIAN BROTHER
Lessons in the power of friendship
Spotlight: A steady stream of silverware
Lessons in unlocking your full potential
CHAPTER 9: THE HIGHS AND LOWS ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS
Lessons in resilience
Lessons in the importance of appreciation
Spotlight: Messi's magical moments
CHAPTER 10: THE FÚTBOL GODS
THE FINAL WHISTLE: ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
Acknowledgments
References
Picture Credits

Editorial Reviews

2025-01-18
A fulsome tribute to the soccer superstar, with select career highlights.

In rapid montage style, sports presenter and writer Echegaray slips back and forth in time to trumpet Messi’s 2023 arrival in the U.S. and retrace his long, storied career from a first match at age five in his home city of Rosario, Argentina, until October, 2024, when he was playing for Inter Miami. The author slips in frequent asides on topics including Messi’s style of play, his charity work, appreciative comments from other soccer stars, and what it was like as a fan and journalist to interview him. The hero worship comes out as much in panegyrics on Messi’s character as in tallies of his on-pitch accomplishments. Along with repeatedly linking his subject to terms likehumble andintrovert, Echegaray holds him up as a role model: a hardworking immigrant who overcame a growth hormone deficiency in childhood and has made good with help from coaches and his devoted family. And lest any reader fail to draw proper lessons from his example, the author makes them explicit: “When you fail, that’s when you’re at your strongest because you have the chance to get up and try again. And that’s the true meaning of character.” Frequent on-field photos and flurries of specific match notes supply light doses of game action.

Tasty fare for readers inclined to hail the coming of soccer’s “Messi-ah.” (references, picture credits)(Biography. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews