Lionel Messi was recently named the best footballer on the planet. The Barcelona star Lionel Messi has set his sights on an even bigger prize – the end of poverty. The Argentine and Colombian singer Shakira head a list of 17 well-known names recruited by the United Nations to promote its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The world body’s objectives include the eradication of poverty by 2030, the fight against climate change and universal access to education and health. Messi and Shakira are already goodwill ambassadors for UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund.

 Lionel Messi 

• Messi is the only football player in history to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or five times, four of which he won consecutively, and the first player to win three European Golden Shoes.
• Born and raised in central Argentina, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a child. At age 13, he relocated to Spain to join Barcelona, who agreed to pay for his medical treatment.
• Due to his short stature, Messi has a lower centre of gravity than taller players, which gives him greater agility, allowing him to change direction more quickly and evade opposing tackles.
• Among his contemporary peers, Messi is most often compared and contrasted with Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

• Eradication means the complete destruction of something.
• Goodwill means friendly or helpful.
• Ambassador is a representative or promoter of a specified activity or an accredited diplomat sent by a state as its permanent representative in a foreign country.
• Contemporary means living or occurring at the same time.