Lionel Andres Messi is the soul and the leader of Argentina. Admire his intelligence on the pitch. Now a six-foot-seven man, who would have thought that he was once a child with dwarfism?
Messi is now a giant with a golden ball in his hand, but who would have thought that 10 years ago he almost ended his soccer career because of dwarfism. Like other children in his hometown of Rosario, Messi grew up with a passion for soccer; but also like his family members, Messi was born short and thin …… Although always the best player in the Newell’s Old Boys junior team, by the age of 12, Messi was still only 140cm, and according to a doctor’s examination, he suffered from congenital dwarfism, and at the At the age of 11, he had stopped growing.
Messi’s dwarfism is not incurable, but growth hormone injections can cost up to $900 a month, a cost the old Newell’s boys, the parent team, were unwilling to pay for a kid with an uncertain future, and River Plate, who once coveted Messi, also backed off from poaching him after learning of his persistent condition.
“I remember, and will never forget, the day I got the diagnosis. It was particularly cold, we were in the street, Messi had no expression, extraordinary calm, and I knew more than anyone that the family could not afford him any treatment.” Father Jorge recalled, “As a father, I knew best that Messi’s illness stemmed from malnutrition.
Argentina produces the best beef in the world and has the best cheese in the world, but that doesn’t belong to us. Messi grew up eating potatoes and carrots, and went to play football after drinking those soups without frothy oil. He never complained and knew more than anyone at a young age, and no one knows that better than me.”
Eternally grateful for Barça’s snowballing fortune At a crucial moment, Messi met the man of his life, Tournini, a longtime scout who had been scouting for young players in South America for Barça. “I spent a lot of time convincing FC Barcelona and I promised Messi’s family that I would not change his nationality.” Looking back, Tournini, a scout with no reputation, is quite proud, “It was one of the best gambles of my life.”
With Tulnini’s help, Messi moved his family to Barcelona, where the then sporting director of Barcelona, Rexarchi, did not hesitate to sign him after watching him train and play, and arranged for the club to treat him, and it was at this moment that Messi’s road to stardom finally opened.
In September 2009, Messi renewed his contract with Barca for a new two-year period. This means that Messi will play for Barca until 2016. In today’s world where everything can be bought with money, Kaka can kiss the Milan jersey yesterday and sit under the air conditioning at the Bernabeu today and count the money! There are too few people with the “childlike ‘stupid’ thinking” of Messi! “I want to stay at Barcelona all my life, as long as the club wants me to stay. I owe more to Barcelona than what the club has given me, my life has changed because of Barcelona.” Messi said.