Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Lionel Messi. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Lionel Andrés Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in the city of Rosario, Argentina. Everyone knows him now as the best football player in the world. In fact, a lot of people say he might become the greatest player ever. We’ll see about that at the World Cup. Messi is FIFA World Player of the Year. He also helped his club team Barcelona win the European Champions League and the World Club Championship.
Messi grew up playing football. He joined his first club when he was five. At the age of eight, he signed up for the famous Newell's Old Boys' youth team. His career nearly ended when doctors found out he suffered from a growth hormone deficiency. Luckily, agents from Barcelona saw his talent and in 2000, he moved to Spain. The Catalan club paid for his medical treatment and coached him until he made his Barcelona debut.
Lionel started breaking records as soon as he played his first game for Barcelona in the 2004-05 season. He became the youngest footballer ever to play a La Liga game and the youngest to score a goal. He helped his team win the league in his first season, and the league and Champions League double in the following season. In the 2008-09 season he scored an impressive 38 goals as Barcelona won the treble.
Messi has an amazing career ahead of him. He is set to shine in South Africa. Many football experts compare him to the legendary Pele and Maradona. This World Cup could be the stage for him to show people he really is the best. His skills on the ball, ability to get past defenders and his goal-scoring are breathtaking. Top soccer coach Arsene Wenger said Messi is “like a PlayStation. He takes advantage of every mistake teams make”.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
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SYNONYM MATCH
Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
ever
a.
joined
2
helped
b.
experienced
3.
signed up for
c.
in history
4.
suffered
d.
first appearance
5.
coached
e.
assisted
6.
debut
f.
trained
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
breaking
g.
extraordinary
8.
following
h.
in front
9.
impressive
i.
specialists
10.
ahead
j.
error
11
experts
k
smashing
12
mistake
l
next
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
1.
Everyone knows him now as
a.
hormone deficiency
2
Messi is FIFA World
b.
of every mistake
3.
Messi grew
c.
the best football player
4.
he suffered from a growth
d.
records
5.
coached him until he made
e.
his first season
6.
Lionel started breaking
f.
Player of the Year
7.
win the league in
g.
to the legendary Pele
8.
Messi has an amazing career
h.
up playing football
9.
experts compare him
i.
his Barcelona debut
10.
He takes advantage
j.
ahead of him
LISTENING GAP FILL
Lionel Andrés Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in the city of Rosario, Argentina. Everyone ___________________ the best football player in the world. In fact, a lot of people ___________________ the greatest player ever. We’ll ___________________ the World Cup. Messi is FIFA World Player of the Year. He ___________________ team Barcelona win the European Champions League and the World Club Championship.
Messi ___________________ football. He joined his first club when he was five. At the age of eight, he ___________________ famous Newell's Old Boys' youth team. His career nearly ended when doctors found out ___________________ a growth hormone deficiency. Luckily, agents from Barcelona saw his talent and in 2000, he moved to Spain. The Catalan club paid for his medical treatment and coached ___________________ his Barcelona debut.
Lionel started ___________________ soon as he played his first game for Barcelona in the 2004-05 season. He became the youngest footballer ___________________ La Liga game and the youngest to score a goal. He helped his team win the league ___________________, and the league and Champions League double in the following season. In the 2008-09 season he scored an impressive 38 goals as Barcelona ___________________.
Messi has an amazing career ___________________. He is set to shine in South Africa. Many football experts compare him to the legendary Pele and Maradona. This World Cup ___________________ for him to show people he really is the best. His skills on the ball, ___________________ defenders and his goal-scoring are breathtaking. Top soccer coach Arsene Wenger said Messi is “like a PlayStation. He ___________________ every mistake teams make”.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Lionel Andrés Messi was birth / born on June 24, 1987 in the city of Rosario, Argentina. Everyone knows him now as the best / beast football player in the world. In fact, a lot of people say he might become the greatest player even / ever. We’ll see / watch about that at the World Cup. Messi is FIFA World Player of the Year. He also helped his club team Barcelona win / wins the European Champions League and the World Club Championship.
Messi grow / grew up playing football. He joined his first club when he was five. At the age of eight, he signed in / up for the famous Newell's Old Boys' youth team. His career nearly ended when doctors found out he suffered / suffering from a growth hormone deficiency. Luckily, agents from Barcelona saw his talented / talent and in 2000, he moved to Spain. The Catalan club paid for his medical treatment and coached him until he made / did his Barcelona debut.
Lionel started breaking records / plates as soon as he played his first game for Barcelona at / in the 2004-05 season. He became the youngest footballer ever to play a La Liga game and the youngest for / to score a goal. He helped his team win the league in his first season, and the league and Champions League double / duo in the following season. In the 2008-09 season he scored an impressive 38 goals was / as Barcelona won the treble.
Messi has an amazing career front / ahead of him. He is set to shine in South Africa. Many football experts compare him to / by the legendary Pele and Maradona. This World Cup could be the pitch / stage for him to show people he really is the best. His skills on the ball, ability / able to get past defenders and his goal-scoring are breathtaking. Top soccer coach Arsene Wenger said Messi is “like a PlayStation. He takes advantage for / of every mistake teams make”.
SPELLING
These jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
Everyone onwsk
2.
the etgtsare player ever
3.
We’ll see otbua that
4.
He also ehpdel his club team
Paragraph 2
5.
He oijend his first club
6.
he esdngi up
7.
he feedsurf from a growth hormone deficiency
8.
his Barcelona budet
Paragraph 3
9.
breaking ecrsord
10.
the 2004-05 aeosns
11.
win the aeuelg
12.
Barcelona won the ebrtel
Paragraph 4
13.
an gimzaan career
14.
experts recpoma him to the legendary Pele
15.
get past nfdrdseee
16.
He takes advantage of every mitkeas
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
famous Newell's Old Boys' youth team. His career nearly ended when doctors found out he suffered from a growth
( )
hormone deficiency. Luckily, agents from Barcelona saw his talent and in 2000, he moved to Spain. The Catalan club paid
( )
Lionel started breaking records as soon as he played his first game for Barcelona in the 2004-05 season. He became
( )
for his medical treatment and coached him until he made his Barcelona debut.
( )
player in the world. In fact, a lot of people say he might become the greatest player ever. We’ll see about that at the World Cup. Messi is
( 1 )
Lionel Andrés Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in the city of Rosario, Argentina. Everyone knows him now as the best football
( )
to the legendary Pele and Maradona. This World Cup could be the stage for him to show people he really is the
( )
Messi has an amazing career ahead of him. He is set to shine in South Africa. Many football experts compare him
( )
his first season, and the league and Champions League double in the following season. In the 2008-
( )
the youngest footballer ever to play a La Liga game and the youngest to score a goal. He helped his team win the league in
( )
best. His skills on the ball, ability to get past defenders and his goal-scoring are breathtaking. Top soccer
( )
09 season he scored an impressive 38 goals as Barcelona won the treble.
( )
FIFA World Player of the Year. He also helped his club team Barcelona win the European Champions League and the World Club Championship.
( )
coach Arsene Wenger said Messi is “like a PlayStation. He takes advantage of every mistake teams make”.
( )
Messi grew up playing football. He joined his first club when he was five. At the age of eight, he signed up for the
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
city the in 1987 June 24 born was Messi Rosario of.
2.
he the ever say become player People might greatest.
3.
was He first he his when five joined club.
4.
from suffered He deficiency hormone growth a.
5.
Coached his him Barcelona until debut he made.
6.
to the play youngest footballer He ever became.
7.
goals 38 impressive an scored he season 2008-09 the In
8.
of an him amazing career Messi ahead has.
9.
legendary Experts him the Pele compare to
10.
teams advantage make of every He mistake takes.
LIONEL MESSI DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Lionel Messi?
2.
Would you like to meet Lionel Messi?
3.
What would you like to know about Lionel Messi and why?
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Lionel Messi. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. Lionel Messi POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Lionel Messi. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Lionel Messi. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he does every day and what he thinks about.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. LETTER: Write a letter to Lionel Messi. Ask him three questions about his life. Give him three suggestions on what he should do in his future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Lionel Messi expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
ever
a.
1.
2
helped
b.
2
3.
signed up for
c.
3.
4.
suffered
d.
4.
5.
coached
e.
5.
6.
debut
f.
6.
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
breaking
g.
7.
8.
following
h.
8.
9.
impressive
i.
9.
10.
ahead
j.
10.
11
experts
k
11
12
mistake
l
12
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
Everyone knows him now as
a.
the best football player
2
Messi is FIFA World
b.
Player of the Year
3.
Messi grew
c.
up playing football
4.
he suffered from a growth
d.
hormone deficiency
5.
coached him until he made
e.
his Barcelona debut
6.
Lionel started breaking
f.
records
7.
win the league in
g.
his first season
8.
Messi has an amazing career
h.
ahead of him
9.
experts compare him
i.
to the legendary Pele
10.
He takes advantage
j.
of every mistake
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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