FIFA World Cup 2014: Argentina captain Lionel Messi turns 27 today

Leo Messi has turned 27 today. The Barcelona number 10 will be celebrating his birthday with the Argentinian squad as they prepare for Wednesday’s final World Cup group game against Nigeria. Messi has spent more than half of his life as a Barcelona player, having joined the Club as a 13 year old, making his first team debut at the age of 16.  His career at the Camp Nou has taken him to the heights of the game to become the world’s best player, setting many records, including the Club’s leading ever goal scorer, overtaking Paulino Alcantara this season with 381 goals in 466 games.

The technicolor boots: Messi's birthday boots, made for his 27th by Adidas.

With Barca, Messi has won 6 League titles, 3 Champions Leagues, 2 Spanish Cups, 2 European Super Cups, 6 Spanish Super Cups and 2 World Club Cups. He has also won the Ballon D’Or four times and the World’s Best Player four times in 2009, 2010, 2011 and  2012. He has also won the Golden Shoe as Europe’s top goalscorer in 2009/10, 2011/12 and 2012/13.

So, to celebrate this occasion, Adidas have made a special edition pair of football boots for the superstar to don on his special day. His new footwear are a technicolor version of the adizeroTM f50 Messi boots, which the Argentinian wizard is currently wearing at the World Cup in Brazil. Messi is set to wear them in training, ahead of his country's table-topping clash with Nigeria the following day.

The Adidas f50 Messi birthday edition

There are to be 27 total pairs made in total, one for each year of his life, with two exclusive signed pairs to be given away on a competition @teammessi on his birthday. Messi has so far scored twice at the World Cup, a superb effort against Bosnia & Herzegovina in their opening game at the Maracana, and a stunning last-gasp winner in their game against Iran. Hopefully his new technicolor boots will help keep his and Argentia's dream alive in Brazil.