Messi on silver world now

A documentary portraying Lionel Messi's tough route to the top was given a first screening in Rio on Wednesday.

"Messi," directed by Spaniard Alex de la Iglesia and scripted by former Argentina international Jorge Valdano, shows how Messi battled a growth hormone disorder before becoming a megastar at Barcelona.

"We know what a genius he is on the pitch, and we wanted to know how he is off it" Valdano said.

"Although behind every genius lies an enigma I think we got close" to portraying the real man, Valdano said.

The film depicts various stages of Messi's career: playing in the streets Rosario, traveling to Barcelona as a young teen, and waiting as the club decides if he has what it takes to enter their youth ranks.