Messi untold stories : Lionel MessiThe world knows him for his great goals, amazing dribbling, records and trophies. Messi, who made Argentina the World Cup champion in 2022, has announced the end of his historic journey in international football. However, Messi’s journey is not limited to the football field. There are many incidents related to his childhood, family and friends, which few people know.
1. Why does Messi look at the sky after scoring a goal?
In Messi’s goal celebration, the sight of both hands pointing towards the sky is well known. But behind this gesture is the memory of his little Celia Olivera Cukiti.
As a child, Celia used to take Messi to the grounds of local club Grandoli. Messi was smaller than other kids his age at the time, leading to questions about his physical ability. However, his younger sister had full faith in Messi’s talent and encouraged him to play football.
Macy’s Nani was only 10 years old when she died. Since then, pointing to the sky after a goal has become an emotional way for him to remember Nani.
2. Teammates at La Masia thought Messi didn’t speak!
At the age of 13, Messi arrived at Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy from Rosario, Argentina. Being in a new country, a new language and being away from family, Messi was very quiet in the early days.
Cesc Fabregas, his childhood friend and later famous footballer, once said that some of the players at La Masia initially thought Messi might not be able to speak.
But the quiet boy’s true identity was revealed when the ball was at his feet on the field. In no time, Messi began to make his point not with words but with his game.
3. Father Jorge played an important role in Messi’s career
From the beginning of Messi’s career, his father Jorge Messi stood by him strongly. After Macy was diagnosed with a growth hormone problem, her family faced the huge challenge of expensive treatment.
Jorge made several efforts to develop his son’s football talent. He was also instrumental in getting Messi’s game videos ready and distributed to different clubs.
When Messi went to Barcelona in 2000, Jorge also arrived in Spain with him. A father’s presence was very important to Messi, who started life in a new country as a teenager.
4. Arsenal also wanted Messi in their team
Messi has been linked with Barcelona throughout his career, but there was a time when Arsenal were keen on signing him.
Arsenal’s then manager Arsene Wenger tried to sign Messi. At that time, Messi was attracting attention with his talent at La Masia.
However, this attempt was not successful and Messi remained in Barcelona. He went on to create such history with Barcelona that his name was forever written among the club’s greatest players.
5. Messi kept his promise to childhood friends on the field
Messi’s relationship with childhood friends Lucas Scaglia and Benitez dates back to his Rosario days. Even after moving to Barcelona, Messi kept in touch with friends.
Messi made his debut against Brazil in 2005 while playing for Argentina’s under-20 team. Before the match, his friends joked that if Messi scored a goal, he would celebrate with three fingers on his heart.
After scoring the goal, Messi actually put his hand over his heart and pointed three fingers. To the world it was just a goal celebration, but for Messi it was a special memory connected with childhood friends.