The 2022 World Cup has ended and with what happened in Qatar, Lionel Messi has confirmed his status as the best player of all time. The life of this football legend contains many interesting stories that are always of great interest to everyone.
Lionel Messi is not the only player in the family
Lionel Messi is a really strong player. Football skills are as if they were in his blood from birth. However, very few people know that Lionel Messi is not the only footballer in the family. He has cousins, Emanuel and Maxi Biancucci, who are playing for clubs in South Africa.
Lionel Messi was almost disabled as a child
It is worth noting that in childhood, Lionel Messi was diagnosed with a disease related to the activity of the pituitary gland, which is why the football player is quite modest compared to his peers in height and weight. The treatment is very expensive, around 900 Euro per month.
Lionel Messi’s full name is Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini, he was born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina. (Photo: Reuters)
Lionel Messi’s parents can barely afford such a large budget. Because of his small stature, Lionel Messi was nicknamed “the flea”. Until now, Lionel Messi’s height is only 170 cm.
Lionel Messi has a father who always believes in his son’s bright future
Lionel Messi started his football career as a child, playing for the city team. At that time, the player’s father was his agent. The boy Lionel Messi was then recruited into the youth team of Barcelona, so from the age of 13, Lionel Messi lived with his father in Barcelona.
When young Lionel Messi played football with the youth team, his father could only wait and wait. When it is possible that he will not be able to sign a contract soon, Lionel Messi’s father has always believed in his son’s abilities, expressing his anger and declaring that Lionel Messi will go play football elsewhere.
An interesting fact is that the director of the club, Charly Rexach, was amazed by the play and skill of young footballer Lionel Messi, whom he wanted to sign immediately. But things are not simple when big events happen in a row.
Currently, Lionel Messi is playing as a striker for the Argentina national football team and playing for Paris Saint-Germain club in the Ligue 1 tournament. (Photo: Reuters)
Joan Gaspart became President in the summer of 2000. Luis Figo moved to Real Madrid and Barcelona was in crisis. No one dared to sign a professional contract with a 13-year-old boy, and even less so when the boy came from faraway Argentina, but the two sides still found a way to “circle the law”.
On December 14, 2000, in a “quick contract” made on a napkin, Charly Rexach wrote hastily: “I, Charly Rexach, as technical manager of FC Barcelona, in spite of There are some objections, pledging to sign Lionel Messi as long as the conditions being negotiated are reached.
Lionel Messi raises his hand on the football field to honor the memories of his grandmother
Despite the fact that Lionel Messi is a true legendary player, he has a very modest manners. When scoring goals, Lionel Messi often behaves very restrained, most often just raising his hands. However, this action of Lionel Messi actually contains more meaning.
As a child, Lionel Messi was very attached to his grandmother, who died when he was 10 years old. Lionel Messi has always believed that his grandmother is watching him from above. Therefore, the act of raising hands is a way for Lionel Messi to honor his grandmother.
Lionel Messi never cheated on his wife
Lionel Messi has a habit of spending all his free time with his family. In 2008, he met Antonella Roccuzzo – an ordinary girl in his hometown studying at the Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology at the University of Argentina with the dream of becoming a dentist.
After following the call of love and moving in with Lionel Messi in Barcelona, the new beauty became a model and social media influencer. Four years later, she gave birth to the football player’s first son, Thiago.
Lionel Messi is currently living happily with his “young and old” wife Antonella Roccuzzo with 3 sons, Mateo Messi Roccuzzo, Thiago Messi and Ciro Messi Roccuzzo. (Photo: Instagram)
And 3 years later, the second son Mateo was born in the family. In 2018, Messi became a father of many children when Antonella gave birth to his third son, Ciro. Only in 2017, Messi held a wedding with Antonella, marking 20 years since the two first met.
During his career as a player, Messi has experienced many difficulties, from injuries to failures, to being accused of tax evasion and sentenced to prison. Antonella and his sons are always by Messi’s side no matter what, helping him stand up to the storm.
In the football village with the stars on the pitch, talented, rich, peach blossom and “changing friends like changing clothes”, Lionel Messi is one of the famous players.