SPAIN WANTED TO POACH HIM FROM HIS COUNTRY WHEN HE WAS YOUNG.

the Spanish manager Vicente Del Bosque has admitted to THE INDIPENDENT. That indeed Spain did try to poach the young talented youngster from Argentina Lionel Messi . Who was a 13 year old boy at THE LA MASIA . But Lionel Messi stood steadfast no matter what the Spaniards said to shift his loyalty to Spain , he said he would play only for Argentina. But here were other footballers who took advantage of that law and shifted their loyalty. 1) Deco .Born Brazilian but played for Portugal. 2) Pepe. Born brazilian but played for Portugal. 3) Diego Costa .Born Brazilian but plays for Spain. Now there is a French footballer Aymeric Laporte who plays for Atletico Bilbao, but as he cannot get a place in the french team he says he will use this law to play for Spain instead.