Lionel Messi's life is to be made into a film after a Los Angeles production company bought the rights to a biography of the Barcelona star.

The film is set to focus on Messi's boyhood in Argentina and treatment for growth hormone deficiency, before depicting his on-field successes.

Messi, 25, has won the Ballon d'Or, awarded to the world's best player, for the last four years.

Epic Pictures Group hopes to finish the film in time for the 2014 World Cup.

The distribution of the film has yet to be decided with Epic Pictures still holding talks with writers and directors about the project.

"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," chief executive Patrick Ewald told Variety magazine.

The film will be based on Luca Caioli's book 'Messi', which features interviews with the player's former coaches, family and team-mates, as well as the man himself.

Source[url][/url] http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22470003