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#3 Ronaldinho
A footballer who easily won the hearts of fans in his prime, Ronaldinho grew up in a very difficult surroundings in the Southern part of Brazil. His family moved to a more upscale area when his brother was signed by Gremio.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck and he lost his father to a heart attack at just eight-years-old. The midfielder had to endure physical and emotional trauma, later joining Gremio's youth team to get his career underway.
The Brazilian progressed through the ranks and was signed by Paris Saint-Germain in 2001. He moved to Barcelona just two years later and established himself as one of the best footballers in the world. Ronaldinho enjoyed a very successful career, winning the Ballon d'Or, the World Cup, Champions League and other honors.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo spent his early years overcoming a plethora of challenges on the Portuguese island of Madeira. He left for Lisbon at just 12-years-old with the determination to make it as a footballer. However, things soon turned sour for the current Manchester United attacker.
He was expelled from school for throwing a chair at a teacher he accused of disrespecting him. Ronaldo was later diagnosed with a 'racing heart' and had to undergo surgery.
Despite the challenges, Cristiano Ronaldo kept his head up and progressed through the youth ranks at Sporting Lisbon. He joined Manchester United in 2003 and has since moved forward to ink his name among the greatest footballers in history.
#1 Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at just 10 years of age, which required expensive treatment his family couldn't afford. With no club willing to pay for his treatment in Argentina, the family moved to Spain to help their child realize his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
Barcelona decided to lend a helping hand after Messi impressed them with his talent. The Blaugrana covered the cost of his treatment and gave him a chance at the club. Mysteriously, his first contract was signed on a napkin.
Fast-forward 21 years and the Argentine has established himself as the greatest player in the club's history. He bagged a whopping 672 goals and 301 assists for the Catalan giants in 778 appearances, leading them to claim 35 trophies before leaving for PSG this summer.
