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Messi. Alvaro Barrientos/AP/Press Association Images

'Lionel Messi: The Movie' is actually happening

Makers say they want the film, due for release around the time of Brazil 2014, to be a Rocky-style biopic.

US FILM MAKERS are to make a biopic about Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi, to be released around the time of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Beverly Hills-based Epic Pictures Group said it has acquired the rights to a biography of the Barcelona star, “Messi: The Inside Story of the Boy Who Became a Legend.”

The film will be a dramatisation based on the book by European sports journalist Luca Caioli, rather than a documentary. Epic will finance and produce it, and are looking for a writer and director.

Caioli drew on interviews with family, coaches and team-mates for the book, which was originally titled “Messi: The Boy who could not Grow” — a reference to growth hormone deficiency he suffered as a boy.

Ultimately, this is a Rocky-style tale about a young boy from humble beginnings who overcomes his physical shortcomings to become one of the greatest players of all time,” said the film company.

The book has been published in 32 countries in 31 languages. Luca Caioli said: “I am very excited to be working with Epic Pictures Group on this powerful story.”

Epic Pictures chief executive Patrick Ewald added: “The goal is to make a powerful and positive film that will leave audiences feeling inspired to go after their dreams no matter how impossible they may seem.”

The company noted, in its release about the Messi film, that it recently won acclaim for “Big Ass Spider!” by director Mike Mendez, which premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Texas in March.

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    Mute The Guru
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:37 PM

    What’s with all the hate for the author? Get a life lads

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    Mute John O'Reilly
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:39 PM

    Fight me

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    Mute Hightower
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:52 PM

    Poor article but leave the man alone, he’s just trying to put stew on the table like the rest of us

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    Mute John O'Reilly
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:54 PM

    That’s rich coming from you Hightower after I seen you commenting racist jokes on an article only last night

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    Mute Hightower
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    Jul 26th 2016, 2:01 PM

    After you saw, please spell it right John it’s my biggest peeve.

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    Mute John O'Reilly
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    Jul 26th 2016, 2:04 PM

    Ah shut up ya meath p***k

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    Mute Bleep12345
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    Jul 26th 2016, 3:21 PM

    Anything a better than a Paul Fennessy article though.

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    Mute Bleep12345
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    Jul 26th 2016, 4:46 PM

    Hate????
    I can read Eoin casually enough and his articles are generally nice to read. I find the other journalists articles are often poor opinion pieces that are badly researched. I can also tell it’s his piece after a few sentences, and I don’t enjoy reading his style of writing either.
    I’ve also seen him argue with posters in the comments section when they don’t agree with his piece which looks sloppy to me. He doesn’t like criticism.

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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:35 PM

    Wow, ease up lads! I thought it was an interesting piece.

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    Mute smithers
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:29 PM

    Its not like hes been playing there for a year now oh wait

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    Mute John
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    Jul 26th 2016, 2:39 PM

    “Footballer turns out for club” would be a better headline

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    Mute EoinM
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    Jul 26th 2016, 8:50 PM

    ‘Keyboard Warrior Who’s Never Written An Article In His Life Thinks He Can Act Hard’ would be a good one for you no?

    If you’ve nothing nice to say, say nothing.

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    Mute Mark Nugent
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:20 PM

    Eoin if your where any good at your job you’d know that it’s his agents greedy fee that’s holding up the transfer, not pogba, not Utd , and not Woodward .

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    Mute Bleep12345
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    Jul 27th 2016, 8:02 AM

    I thought ‘mummy’ was the agent for her three boys.

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Jul 26th 2016, 3:26 PM

    I hope United pull out of this saga soon. Being held to a ransom by an agent is embarrassing for the club. And not to mention the fee for a player who clearly wants to play elsewhere. Surely there is better value in the market.

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    GoT
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    Jul 26th 2016, 1:59 PM

    Poor

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    Mute Limón Madrugada
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    Jul 26th 2016, 9:27 PM

    Which Guinea , there’s 3 !

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