Film of Messi's life to be aired in time for 2014 World Cup

BARÇA player Leo Messi, considered the best footballer in the world at the tender age of 25, is about to have a film of his life made.

The Argentinian-born is likely to hit the silver screen in time to coincide with the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 in an uplifting drama based upon his biography, Messi: The inside story of the boy who became a legend, written by Luca Caioli.

Film company Epic Pictures will centre the production on Messi's childhood, his humble background, relatively poor roots, and battle against physical drawbacks such as the fact he is short in height, none of which stopped him from becoming a footballing legend at a time when most other boys his age are still at university.

According to one of the directors of Epic Pictures, Patrick Ewald, the aim is to 'create a powerful and positive film' which leaves spectators 'with a feeling of inspiration' and a 'determination to follow their dreams, however impossible they may seem'.

Messi is the first footballer in history to have won the FIFA Golden Ball trophy four times in a row.

Previous legendary players Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten have won it three times, but until 1995 it had never been awarded to players from outside Europe, meaning world-class sportsmen such as Pelé and Maradona never got their hands on it.