Lionel Messi can be considered as the most exceptional football player to have ever played the sport. This talented player’s career has been filled with numerous achievements and he has won many prestigious awards. Recently, Messi also achieved success on an international level by leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 world cup, adding another trophy to his impressive collection.
Lionel Messi - ARGENTINA - Source: eurosport
Up until now, the 34-year-old has achieved numerous remarkable accomplishments in his career, surpassing several longstanding records. Additionally, he holds the exclusive distinction of being the sole player in football history to be awarded seven Ballon d’Or trophies.
This article aims to provide you with some lesser-known information about the small-sized Argentine. In this regard, we will present 5 intriguing facts about Lionel Messi that are likely to be unfamiliar to you.
5- The lack of growth hormone and obsession with Coca-Cola
It is common knowledge that Messi and the renowned revolutionary Che Guevara were both born in Rosario.
In his early years, he had a deficiency in growth hormone that needed costly medication. A lot of people think that Barcelona covered the expenses for this treatment when they signed him in 2001.
Despite what most people believe, the Argentinian social security was responsible for providing his medication.
Regardless of his health situation, Messi became a member of Barcelona at the young age of 13. Similar to most teenagers, he had a fondness for carbonated beverages, particularly cola drinks. His affinity for these drinks was so strong that all the soda machines at La Masia were removed in order to avoid any further harm to his health.
Qui d'autre que lui ? Dans un duel fermé face à l'Equateur, Lionel Messi a débloqué la situation pour l'Argentine d'un magnifique coup franc ! Les champions du monde remportent leur premier match des éliminatoires au prochain Mondial. pic.twitter.com/DFnHz6fo1B
— L'ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) September 8, 2023
4- The historical significance of the paper napkin in the context of football was profound
Messi completely revolutionized football records with his incredible goal-scoring abilities, but it all began when Barcelona’s technical secretary Carles Rexach was captivated by the extraordinary talent of the 13-year-old at the time.
Rexach was extremely captivated by what he had witnessed. Since there was no contract readily accessible at the moment, he made the spontaneous decision to finalize the agreement on a convenient item, specifically a paper napkin.
In order to protect it for future generations, the paper napkin has been framed as it signifies a significant moment in FC Barcelona’s history.
3- Lionel Messi or Leonel Mecci?
Messi became famous in Spain, but his achievements were also widely recognized and celebrated in his native country of Argentina.
However, even though he was Barcelona’s favorite, he was still relatively unknown. Not everyone knew about this talented and small player who would later become loved in both Spain and Argentina.
When the Argentine Football Association first called up Messi for the Under-20s, they were unsure of his name because he was the only player playing outside of Argentina. Eventually, he did receive his call-up, but it was wrongly addressed to “Leonel Mecci”.
2- Lionel Messi got off to a rough start
On August 17, 2005, at the age of 18, Messi played his first match for Argentina as a substitute for Lisandro Lopez in a friendly game against Hungary. We expected this day to mark the start of Messi’s strong connection with the Argentinian team, but unfortunately, that was not the outcome.
Messi made a brief entrance, lasting just 43 seconds, before quickly getting control of the ball. In an attempt to make a striking first impression on his debut, he embarked on one of his signature runs.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned when Vilmos Vanczak, a Hungarian player, grabbed the 18-year-old Messi’s shirt. In an attempt to free himself from Vanczak, Messi unintentionally hit him in the face with his arms. The referee interpreted it as a purposeful elbow and sent off the young player, who was already back in the dressing room before anyone could see him!
According to reports, after his unceremonious debut, Messi was discovered crying in the locker room with his head buried in his hands.
1- The true justification for his solo position on the side in every team photograph
Even the most exceptional individuals are not superhuman, and despite Messi’s extraordinary football abilities, he still possesses human traits. In every team photo, the small-statured Argentinian is consistently positioned on the left side, standing closely with his fellow countrymen, albeit with a subtly distinct posture.
The reason for this is due to the underlying feeling of inferiority that the former Barcelona superstar experienced during his early years. Despite being the most talented compared to his peers, he had not yet achieved success in the football world.
Messi’s position at one end of the picture gives him the advantage of not needing to bend his knees, making his posture seem taller compared to his teammates who have to bend their knees to achieve a perfect photograph.
Simple reminders like these make us aware that even though Messi may have exceptional talent, he is still a regular human being.
