Lionel Messi hails La Masia

Lionel Messi has said that Barcelona's youth system La Masia made him the player that he is.

The Argentine joined Barca from Newell's Old Boys in 2000 and has made 427 appearances for the Spanish side's first team, scoring 356 goals in the process.

"I came here when I was 13 and I was surprised that I liked everything, everything was different from what I had seen in Rosario, my city," Messi told Sport.

"It was all a joy. Coming here was very nice. First I was six months without playing, because the transfer wasn't completed and then because of injury.

"I was injured in my first game. They were hard times and lasted quite a while. I am what I am because of the values I learned in the cantera and in Barcelona's La Masia."

Messi scored 41 times last season and has already struck twice in the new campaign.