Epic Pictures Group is developing a “Rocky”-style movie version of the life of soccer superstar Lionel Messi.

The company has acquired all rights to the biography “Messi: The Inside Story of the Boy Who Became a Legend” by Luca Caioli. Epic will finance and produce the film.

Epic toppers Patrick Ewald and Shaked Berenson are meeting with writers and directors with a projected release date to coincide with next year’s World Cup, to be held in Brazil starting on June 12, 2014.

Messi, 25, plays for the FC Barcelona and Argentina national teams. Despite being relatively small at 5-feet-7, he has been named the FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) Player of the Year in 2009 through 2012.

Producers aim to focus on the story of a young boy from humble beginnings in Rosario, Argentina, who overcomes his physical shortcomings to become one of the greatest players of all time.

“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,” said Ewald.

Epic Pictures produced Mike Mendez’s “Big Ass Spider!,” which debuted at this year’s South by Southwest, along with “Vikingdom,” “V/H/S,” and “Mall,” a collaboration with the band Linkin Park.