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Lionel Messi celebrates his 28th birthday

Watch Lionel Messi age from a kid to a superstar in six seconds

Wednesday is Barcelona star Lionel Messi's 28th birthday. See what he looked like as a kid. 

Lionel Messi wasn't a superstar when he joined FC Barcelona at the age of 13. He was a goofy teenager. But Messi turns 28 on Wednesday and is now a soccer demigod. 

Messi joined Barca in 2000 after the club offered to pay for his growth hormone deficiency treatments. The treatments had cost his family several hundred dollars per month, so they moved to Spain and young Leo began training with Barcelona's youth academy. 

Over the years, the club collected photos of the budding star, which they combined into a Vine so we can watch him grow up in a matter of seconds.

• To honor his 28th birthday, watch 28 epic Messi goals

• ​Enjoy Ray Hudson gushing over Lionel Messi for his 28th birthday

- Dan Gartland

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