Vladislav Voronin - about Leo's main drama.

As a child, Messi had a nightmare for the whole of Rosario. The coaches of the Newells Old Boys children's teams even stopped counting how many goals Leo scored in different tournaments, but everyone is sure that there are more than 500 for sure. as a rule of thumb, as soon as Newells scored the sixth goal, they would go to the locker room so that they would no longer suffer.

Messi had a special motivation to never stop and destroy everyone around him. At one time, coach Carlos Marconi gave him an alphahor for each goal - this is a chocolate chip cookie with milk caramel inside. If Messi scored 4 goals, then he received 4 cookies.

To make Leo progress even more powerful, the coach promised him two cookies per goal with his head. “Almost in the next match, Leo beat all the defense and the goalkeeper, then threw the ball and scored his head into the empty net. He looked at me and pointed with his fingers: give me two, ”Marconi recalled.

When Messi was 9 years old, the Newells Old Boys coaches began to think that something was wrong with Leo. All partners got taller, and Messi remained very low - 1 meter 27 centimeters. His friend's dad even put an extra pillow in the car so Leo could see what was happening outside the window.

This did not in any way affect the success in children's tournaments, but in the future it would bring huge problems: with such a growth, Messi would never have been able to engage in single combats. I had to go through a detailed examination.

The Doctor Who Calmed Leo

So 9-year-old Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, which is incredibly important for the maturation of the body. According to endocrinologist Diego Schwarzstein, who worked with Messi in Rosario for two and a half years, this disease is rare, on average in one child in 20 thousand.

In such cases, growth hormone treatment is always prescribed - daily injections into the arms and legs for 3-6 years, depending on the characteristics and reaction of the body. In professional sports, such injections are prohibited, since if the hormone is injected into a healthy person, it helps to increase muscle mass. But Messi, firstly, took the hormone in childhood, and secondly, he did it for clear medical purposes, so it is impossible to consider injections as doping.

“I was the smallest in the field, the smallest in the school, the smallest in the yard. Therefore, every day they gave me an injection in the leg. Day after day, week after week, and so on for more than three years, ”Messi recalled.

At the receptions Leo told the doctor Schwarzstein almost everything - how many goals he scored in each match, what tournaments the Newells Old Boys had, what he wants to achieve. And one day the doctor replied: "I don't know if you will be better than Maradona, but you will definitely become taller."

Everything turned out great. Now Messi's height is 1 meter 69 centimeters. Maradona is two centimeters lower.

Treatment in Argentina has been interrupted. Had to fly to Barcelona

True, on the way to recovery, Messi faced a tragic difficulty. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Argentina was gripped by a powerful economic crisis, which in 2001 led to a default, the resignation of the president and the collapse of the middle class.

The first two and a half years of Messi's treatment were paid for by the insurance fund of the steel plant where Lionel's father worked. When the crisis finally raged, all insurance payments were cut, and Messi was left without injections of growth hormone. A course of injections cost between $ 900 and $ 1,300 a month, and the family did not have that kind of money.

Jorge Messi first turned to the Newells Old Boys management - he hoped that the club would save its main junior, but he was mistaken, because the crisis also affected football clubs.

“They said they would pay for the treatment in full, asked not to worry,” Leo's father recalled. - And in the end they gave only 300 pesos. If they paid, we would definitely stay in Rosario. "

Messi in the first children's team (Leo is the second from the right in the top row)

Messi's family urgently looked for options for salvation: it is impossible to interrupt the course of treatment for a long time. “There are no side effects from an abrupt stop of the course, but if Leo had finished taking the hormone, he would now be much lower, in the region of 1 meter 50 centimeters,” said doctor Schwarzstein.

Soon the Messi family was helped by two entrepreneurs from Buenos Aires, who had heard about Messi's incredible talent and were familiar with the representatives of Barcelona. This is how Jorge Messi met Josep Maria Minghelia - one of the most important Barcelona employees among those who have never flickered in public. In the seventies, he came to the club as a translator, then became a coach, administrator of youth teams, scout and even a player manager. He participated in the transfers of Diego Maradona, Romario and Hristo Stoichkov to the Camp Nou. Subsequently, Messi's move was added to these great deals.

“I first saw Leo when he was only 12. He was short, weak, and because of his physical characteristics, there were doubts whether he could become a good player,” Minghelia recalled. - But after watching the video in detail, I was just amazed. It seemed that Leo came to us from an incredible planet where exceptional people are born: architects, doctors, great musicians. "

Barcelona were initially not particularly interested in Messi, but Minghelia did everything to change the position of the club. He bought Lionel and his father tickets to Spain and even paid for their accommodation in Barcelona.

“In training, everyone saw what Leo was capable of, discussions went on week after week, but no one made any decisions: someone liked Messi, someone was embarrassed by his height ... Then I decided to call the adviser to Barcelona president Joan Gaspar, and he ordered a check in the control match, ”Minghelia said.

The match took place on an artificial turf near the Camp Nou, Leo played with the older guys - in such difficult conditions the Barcelona bosses were checking whether they should invest in its development and treatment. Messi impressed everyone.

“Charlie Rechak, who was an adviser to the Barcelona president, immediately saw what others were afraid to admit. Leo was good, ”said Minghelia.

By that time, Messi's father no longer believed that everything would work out with Barcelona. It seemed to him that the Catalans, like the Newells Old Boys, would be deceived and would not offer any contract.

To appease Jorge Messi, Minghelia and Rechak prepared a temporary agreement. It was written on December 14, 2000, on a napkin in a restaurant on Montjuïc. The agreement guaranteed that a full-fledged junior contract would soon be signed with Messi. At the same time, Lionel's father was guaranteed a position in the youth system of Barcelona.

The documents were being prepared until March 2001, and treatment was required as quickly as possible. As a result, Barcelona CEO Joan Lacueva paid for the first course of growth hormone injections: he gave Messi's father 152,000 pesetas from his personal savings.

Caring for Lionel was almost limitless. In December 2001, his salary was increased (while still at the academy he received as a Barcelona B player), and Leo's father was given a loan to renovate a Barcelona apartment.

After 5 years, Leo proved that it was not in vain. And after another 10, he became a legend at all.

Barcelona was the only club that agreed to pay for my treatment, - said Messi. "The club has done everything possible for me, and I will play here as long as I need it."

On June 24, 2013, Barcelona striker Lionel Messiah turned 26. the site tells about 10 most interesting facts from the life of an Argentine football player.

1. Napkin

It was on her that Messi signed his first contract with Barça. As explained by Carles Rexach (this is the coach of the Youth Sports School at the time): “We were in the cafe with Messi, his brother and dad. We didn't have paper around, so we quickly signed the agreement on a regular napkin. "

And it is quite possible that this napkin turned out to be the most expensive in the world, because it brought the player up to 60,000 euros per year.

Now Messi's height is 169 centimeters, but as a child he was miniature. By the age of nine, he barely reached 124 centimeters in height. Doctors prescribed treatment for him for growth hormone deficiency. They say that if he had not taken these drugs, nowadays he would have lifted up to 140 centimeters.

During his debut for Argentina, Messi was sent off 47 seconds after coming on as a substitute. It happened on August 17, 2005 against the Hungarian national team. And before the second match for the national team, against Paraguay, Leo half-jokingly told reporters: “This will be a re-debut. The first one was short. "

4. Young

On May 1, 2005, Messi became the youngest player to score a goal in the elite division of the Spanish championship. It happened in a match against Albacete, Leo's age at that time was 17 years, 10 months and seven days. Later this record was broken by Bojan Krkic, using the accurate transmission ... Messi.

At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Messi became the youngest Argentinean footballer to play in the World Cup. At the age of 18 years and 357 days in the 74th minute, he came on as a substitute in a duel against Serbia and Montenegro and scored the last goal against the Balkans, who were eventually defeated by a score of 6: 0.

Surprisingly, speaking together from 2004 to 2011, Lionel Messiah Boyan Krkic did not even suspect that they were distant relatives, since the great-great-grandfathers of the two players were siblings.

Research into the family tree of the Argentine forward has shown that both players are descendants of the Catalan Perez family from El Poal. The great-great-grandfather of the blue garnet star Ramon Perez Llobera was born here in 1859, while his brother Gonçal was born nine years later. Subsequently, Perez's granddaughter emigrated to Argentina, where she married Eusebio Baro Messi, while the descendants of Bojan's great-great-grandfather remained in Catalonia.

Once Messi told why he looks at the sky when he forgets: “I dedicate my goals to my grandmother. It was she who advised my father to go to the football section, but now she no longer sees everything that is happening to me. However, she continues to help me and my family. "

7. Maradona

In April 2007, in the Spanish Cup semi-final against Getafe, Messi almost exactly repeated the goal of the century, which in 1986 was scored by his compatriot Diego Maradona.

He started the race almost from the same place, ran the same distance (62 meters), beat the same number of rivals (6 with a goalkeeper), and also ran to the right to the corner flag. The differences are minimal.

Messi also repeated Diego's second achievement, scoring a goal with his hand against Espanyol.

“I try to avoid comparisons with Maradona, because for me there is no one like him,” says Messi himself.

8. Relatives

Leo has two cousins ​​- Maxi Biancuchi plays for Brazilian club Vitoria, and Emmanuel Biancuchi plays for Serbian Olimpia.

In addition, the Argentine has a full namesake - who could go to the French "Angers".

9.250 million

Lionel is now worth 250 million euros - this is the amount of the payoff prescribed in his contract with Barcelona, ​​which is valid until 2016. His salary at the Catalan club is 9.5 million euros per year.

In 2013 Messi: on his left leg he now has the name of his son Thiago and the image of his hands.

By the way: the age difference between Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi is 869 days. And exactly the same number of days separates the dates of birth of their children.

Cristiano Ronaldo was born on February 5, 1985, and Lionel Messi on June 24, 1987. Cristiano Jr. was born on June 17, 2010, and Tyagorod was born on November 2, 2012.

Lionel Messi is one of the best footballers in the world at the moment. the site decided to tell 10 facts about the Argentine striker, which you may not even know about.

1 the birth of a star

Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. His family is middle class and is of Italian descent. His father, Jorge, worked as a steelmaker, but he also coached the local youth soccer team.

2. Difficult childhood

Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency at the age of 11. The cost of treatment was $ 900 a month, which was not affordable for his middle class family.

3. Contract

Barcelona's sporting director Carles Rexach was so impressed with the talent of the young Messi at the age of 13 that he asked the boy to sign a contract with the club on a napkin. He wanted to close the deal immediately and at that time he had no paper. Meanwhile, Barcelona are committed to paying all of Leo's medical bills.

4. Barcelona

Messi made his La Liga debut at the age of 17 against Espanyol and became the third youngest player in club history. That's not all. He became the youngest player to score a goal in Example. In the 2005/06 season, Messi spent an entire season with the first team for the first time, scoring 6 goals in 17 matches.

5. Achievements

Messi is the 2008 Olympic champion, having won six Spanish titles, two National Cups, five Super Cups, three Champions League, two Club World Cups and two UEFA Super Cups. He has won a record four FIFA Ballon d "Or" titles in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. He has also won three Golden Boots.

6. Humanitarian activities

He has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for many years. Messi helps people with autism. In March 2013, he donated $ 812,000 to renovate a children's hospital in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina.

7. Comparison with the legend

Diego Maradona has already named Messi as his successor. But Lionel Messi became the first Argentine to be named FIFA Player of the Year. Nevertheless, the award was created in 1991 and at that time Maradona was no longer as shining as before.

8. His family

His son Thiago Messi was born on November 2, 2012. Messi loves his child so much that he tattooed Thiago's name and handprints on his left calf.

9. Modesty

Lionel Messi has been a very shy person since childhood. Apparently, he rarely speaks on the phone. The most important messages delivered to him and received by him go through SMS.

10. Celebrating Heads

After a goal is scored, Messi raises both hands in the air. This gesture is a tribute of respect and gratitude to his grandmother, who was very close to him. He lost his grandmother at the age of 10. He believes that she is there and is watching him from above. This is his way of showing that he will always be grateful to her.

With "Barcelona" was written on a napkin. This happened in December 2000 in a Barcelona restaurant: Jorge Messi, the footballer's father, insisted on the immediate conclusion of a contract with 13-year-old Lionel, and then the sports director of Barcelona Carles Rexach asked the waiter for a paper to attest the obligations of the blue garnet on wages and financing all of Messi's medical bills. The sheet of paper was not found in the restaurant, and the contract was signed by both parties on a regular napkin, which is now kept in the club's museum.

FACT TWO: MESSI COULD BE BELOW

After enrolling in Barcelona, ​​young Messi was injected with growth hormones. If not for expensive treatment, Lionel would hardly have grown above 140 centimeters. Messi's injections allowed him to grow to 169 centimeters, while Lionel scored one of his most important goals with his head in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome.

FACT THREE: FAILURE TEAM DEBUT

The debut match for the national team of Messi had the first and so far the only removal in his career. Lionel received a red card 47 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Hungary on 17 August 2005. Since then, he has interrupted and resumed his international career several times. As if to remind him: "Leo, they are waiting for you in Russia!" To win the first trophy with a national team, fans of the Argentine's talent will add.

FACT FOUR: LOVE FOR GRANDMA

After the heads, Messi remembers his grandmother, raising his index fingers to the sky and looking up. “I do this by dedicating goals to my grandmother,” Lionel once explained in an interview. “It was she who took me to the football section, but now she no longer sees everything that is happening to me. Nevertheless, she continues to help me and my family. ...

FACT FIVE: AND HER PORTRAIT

Messi has a tattoo of his grandmother on his left shoulder blade.

FACT SIX: SECOND TATTOO

How the tattoo on Messi's left leg changed. Photo "SE"

In 2013, Lionel got a second tattoo - with the handprint of his first child, Tiago, born on November 2, 2012. Then the drawing on the left foot of the football player underwent a number of adjustments and, as a result, changed dramatically.

FACT SEVEN: NEWSPAPER NAMED AFTER LEO

Newspaper named after Leo. Photo "SE"

In 2014, the main Argentine sports newspaper Olé was renamed Léo for one day - in honor of Messi's triumphant return to service after two months of recovery from injury and two of his goals in the first match - against Getafe. “His comeback is like a lightning bolt,” Olé writes on the front page. of peace Argentinians can sleep peacefully. " In the summer, the national team stopped one step away from gold ...

FACT EIGHT: ON THE FOOT OF MARADONA

Messi returned from injury and scored two goals for Getafe on the same day that Diego Maradona played his first game for Barcelona since recovering from a serious injury thirty years earlier. Maradona then also scored two goals - against Sevilla. Throughout Lionel's career, he was compared to Diego, and two of the most famous goals of Maradona Messi repeated in 2007 with an interval of a couple of months - a hand goal and a goal in a solo raid, beating half of the opposing team.

FACT NINE: RECORDMAN

5 Golden Balls by Lionel MESSI. Photo AFP

Messi has set and updated various all-time records for the number of major individual football trophies won. It will take a long time to count all the Argentinean's prizes. So far, no one has managed to become a five-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, although Cristiano Ronaldo is striving for this.

FACT TEN: GOALS, MATCHES

At 24, Messi became the best sniper in the history of the Catalan club, at 28 he made 100 appearances for the national team. The forward went on summer vacation 2017, having 583 matches and 507 goals for Barça and 118 matches and 58 goals for the national team. There is no doubt that Leo is able to set more than one performance record, if, of course, it does not interfere with him.

Lionel Messi - Best Ever Dribbling Skills HD

Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi is one of three contenders (along with teammate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo) for the Ballon d'Or prize for the best footballer in the world in the past year. Sportbox.ru recalls ten interesting facts from the biography of the most humble player on the planet.

1. The story that at one time doctors helped Messi to overcome a serious illness is widely known. By the age of nine, the boy was only 124 cm tall, a little taller - 136 cm - he came to Barcelona. The cost of treatment at that time ranged from 700 to 1000 euros, which a large family could not afford. Argentinean "River Plate" refused to pay for medical assistance, and the Catalan club turned out to be more far-sighted and went to meet the young talent. Now, at Barça, Messi still has an individual approach - for example, the club has long hired the Argentinean a separate fitness coach, Juanho Brau.

2. Messi's first contract with Barcelona was signed on a napkin. “We were sitting in a cafe with Messi's father and older brother,” recalls the then coach of the children's school and part-time sports director of the club, Carles Rexach. - We talked about the boy's talent, about his intention to play football. We didn’t have any paper at hand, so in a hurry we drew up a contract on an ordinary napkin ”. Its amount was 60 thousand euros per year. Not much by the standards of Messi's talent, but also quite a lot for the residents of the modest Rosario district.

3. In 2012, Barça sold almost 1.15 million shirts, of which 850 thousand (!) With a ten on the back, and more than 70 percent of the front pages of Catalan sports newspapers come out with a headline containing the first or last name of Messi.

4. The nominees are very responsible for each Golden Ball award ceremony - they sew costumes from famous fashion designers, do their hair, dress their companions in chic outfits. This is a kind of sports "Oscar". Once Messi admitted that he owes his own toilet and, in general, his entire appearance to his girlfriend Antonella.

5. Among Spanish women, Messi has always been much less popular than Cristiano Ronaldo, but in Latin America the fair sex does not give him a pass. So, after one of the matches between the national teams of Argentina and Venezuela in Caracas, the girl, despite all the admonitions, jumped from a 5-meter height to kiss her idol and ask him to become the godfather of her child. Messi refused.

6. But the wife of Sergio Aguero was much more convincing. Or Sergio himself, or, more likely, his father-in-law Diego Maradona. So Messi became Benjamin Aguero's godfather.

7. In his entire professional career, Messi was removed only once. It was in 2005 in a friendly match Hungary - Argentina. It was his debut for the national team, but the attacker had a chance to spend only 47 seconds on the field, after which he saw a red card in front of him for the go-ahead.

8. At home, the attitude towards Messi is much cooler than in Europe. So in 2012, in a dispute over the title of Athlete of the Year in his country, he lost to boxer Sergio Martinez. Argentines believe that the footballer is more European, because they have not even seen him in the shirt of their native Argentine football club. The attacker will not return to his homeland and when he finishes his career, at least his compatriots think so.

9. They say that recently the shy Messi himself decided to ask for an autograph. While on vacation at home, the striker dropped in on a tennis tournament held under the patronage of Roger Federer and asked for his first autograph. Federer, of course. True, unlike ordinary mortals, he also had to issue a response sheet with a list. The cameras did not capture this moment, but at the official press conference the Swiss tennis player said only good things about the player: "Messi and I proved that good guys can succeed."

10. Three Golden Balls, 91 goals in a calendar year, five victories in the Spanish championship and three in the Champions League, and many more achievements.