Lionel Messi's cousin Maxi Biancucchi has explained how the Barcelona star found a way to cope with being smaller than oppposition players from a young age.

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The Argentine has become a legend for club and country over the past 15 years, winning a record six Ballon d'Or awards in the process.

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The 32-year-old has never let his height stop him on the pitch, with his cousin revealing that, even as a child, Messi never shied away from a challenge.

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"In the neighbourhood he played with us, we were bigger than him, and they told us: 'Crazy, get him out because we are going to kill him.' They wanted to hit him, but he put up with it," Biancucchi told Ataque Futbolero via Ole.

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"When he was eight or nine, I would get up early on Saturdays to watch him play and he'd do impressive things. I could not believe it."

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Having joined Newell's Old Boys as a child before moving to Barcelona in 2001, many Argentines hold out hope Messi may finish his playing career at the club.

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While Biancucchi is keen to see his cousin play for Newell's, he conceded a return is unlikely due to security issues in the region.

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"Leo has a lot of love for Argentina, people never understand that," Biancucchi said.

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"If it were not for insecurity, I have no doubt that he would play in Argentina, that is the only thing that can affect him when it comes to him returning.

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"It is my dream to be able to see Leo at Newell's, but I see it as complicated. It is difficult, imagine that Messi plays a Classico, the kids have to go to school...the city is hell."

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Messi admitted last year he does dream of returning to Newell's but stressed his family comes first.

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"I have the dream of being able to play for Newell's in Argentina, but I don't know if it's really going to happen because I have a family that is ahead of my desire," Messi told TyC Sports.

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"It's a dream I've had since I was little, but I have a family, I have three children, I live in a place that has given me everything and where I am calm and can give my children a spectacular future.

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"We think much more about that than my desire of playing football in Argentina. I will try to convince the family, because today we have to convince the children too."

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Source: goal.com

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