Messi the little genius

World Cup star Lionel Messi has always been able to mesmerise defences - even bamboozling opponents as a five-year-old.

Fresh from guiding Argentina to its first World Cup final since 1990, footage has emerged of the little master slaloming past rivals to score a goal that would make any adult proud.

The video, shot in 1993, shows Messi collect the ball and beat at least six opponents before planting his shot in the back of the net.

Even then the youngster, who was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a child, wore the famous No. 10 jersey.

The footage was shot less than a decade after Messi's family considered leaving their home, 300km north west of Argentina capital Buenos Aires, for a new life in Australia due to an economic crisis.

Lionel's parents, Jorge and Celia, investigated visas for the move Down Under, but then kids Rodrigo, Matias, Lionel and Maria came and they battled on.

Respected London-based Spanish writer Guillem Balague even explored the issue of whether Messi would have been the player he was had he grown up in Australia.

“It makes an interesting proposition - could it be the same Messi in Australia?’’ Balague said.

“This is a question I discussed with some people, including (Cesar Luis) Menotti (1978 World Cup winning coach).

“The answer is no, Messi could only have come out in Argentina, because everybody’s an organiser, player, coach. There’s football everywhere and no distractions from other sports."

Messi's father, Jorge said his son had changed little as a player since his childhood.

“His reflexes haven’t changed. He was always so short, but so fast,’’ his dad, Jorge, said.

“It was very difficult for another boy to take the ball away.”