Messi signed 1st BarÃ§a contract on a napkin as a 13-year-old
Argentina captain and five-time Ballon d'Or-winner Lionel Messi signed his first informal contract for Barcelona on a table napkin as a 13-year-old in 2000. Messi, who was suffering from growth hormone deficiency at the time, was signed by Barcelona's Technical Secretary Carles Rexach despite opposition from some officials. Messi, who is the highest goalscorer in Barcelona history, turns 31 today.