Description
Book SynopsisWidely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, seven-time Ballon d’Or and six-time Golden Shoe winner, Lionel Messi, enjoyed a record-breaking 17-year career at FC Barcelona during which time he scored more goals, played more games, won more titles and provided more assists than any other player in the Catalan club’s history. Adored by Barça fans, Messi reigned supreme until August 2021, when he made a tearful farewell to a stunned global audience. Messi: The King of Camp Nou is the definitive story of Lionel Messi’s entire Barça career, written by Jason Pettigrove, a football journalist who worked for FC Barcelona during Messi’s final years in Catalonia. Charting Messi’s rise as a hopeful 13-year-old Argentinian boy from Rosario to becoming the best footballer in the world, Pettigrove’s comprehensively researched book features exclusive interviews with key individuals in Messi’s story - team-mates, opponents, managers, agents and fellow journalists - including: Joan Laporta, Lionel Scaloni, Victor Font, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Jamie Carragher, Mike Phelan, Josep Maria Minguella, Horacio Gaggioli, Tony Watt, Santi Padro and Jorge Barraza. From being signed by Barça on a napkin to Champions League glory and becoming FC Barcelona captain, Messi: The King of Camp Nou reveals the inside story of Leo’s remarkable reign at Barça including breaking Pelé's incredible record for most goals scored at one club, how the longed for Copa América title was won and how he, season-on-season, mesmerised the football world.
Trade Review'I guarantee this will be the best book on Leo Messi you haven't yet read.' Graham Hunter; 'He was born to play football and it’s on the field where we see the happiest version of Lionel. It’s what he does best and what gives him the most joy.' Lionel Scaloni; 'I don't think any have been better than Lionel Messi.'Sir Kenny Dalglish; 'Messi's the best club footballer of all time.' Jamie Carragher; 'You can fit Pele's best moments into a one-hour video, or you can make a two-hour video for the best of Maradona. With Messi's best, it's a 24-hour long video.' Jorge Barraza; 'Messi makes more correct decisions than anyone on a football field. He doesn't pigeonhole himself into a specific role because his role was to be the difference, and that's what he did at FC Barcelona.' Mike Phelan
Table of ContentsForeword by Graham Hunter 1. Rosario to Barcelona 2. Signed on a Napkin 3. Five Teams in One Season 4. First Barca Goal 5. The New Maradona 6. An El Clasico To Remember 7. Olympic Glory 8. 'Tiki-Taka' 9. Ballon D'Or 10. El Clasico Overkill 11. Masterclass v Man Utd 12. 91 Goals in a Calendar Year 13. The Double Treble 14. A World Champion ... Again 15. 500 Up For Barca 16. More Than a Club 17. One Goal From Invincibility 18. Nightmare at Anfield 19. A Sixth Golden Shoe 20. 'Barcagate' and the Burofax 21. Beating Pele's Record 22. Laporta's Promise Epilogue Index Statistics and Record of Achievement
