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Everybody in the world at present is familiar about Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and it is not a secret that most of the records and trophies in the footballing fraternity are at his disposal. Messi recently won his third Golden Boot Award from the European Sports Media for being the highest scorer in the 2012-13 campaign. Therefore, I take this opportunity to highlight some of the lesser known facts about “La Pulga” (he is commonly addressed by his Barca team-mates as La Pulga or the flea).
1) Messi’s roots
It is very well known that Messi has been born and brought up in Rosario, Argentina, before he moved to Catalan giants Barcelona. But it is not well known that his original roots were in Italy. His ancestor had moved from Italy to Argentina a long time ago and as a result Messi plays for the Argentine national team!
2) Messi’s first club
Some of our very new generation of football fans may think that Leo’s first club is Barcelona. Others believe that Messi originated from Newell’s Old Boys, an Argentine football club based on his home town Rosario. But even before that, Messi made his football debut in a lesser known local club called Grandoli whose coach was none other than his own father Jorge!
3) Turbulent childhood
Messi was not very healthy and nutritious in his childhood days like the other boys around. He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency which was stopping his normal growth rate at a tender age of 11.
4) Messi’s first big club offer
It is very well-known that when Messi was playing for Newell’s, Barcelona showed interest in Messi and Messi moved to Catalonia subsequently. But even before that, the first competitive club to show interest in Messi was none other than Argentina’s popular club River Plate. They could not obtain his services because they did not risk paying for his expensive medical treatment for his growth syndrome.
5) Messi’s contract for FC Barcelona
Messi had relatives in Catalonia and when he was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency and River Plate refused to fund him for its treatment, FC Barcelona sporting director at that time, came to know about it. Messi was given a chance for a trial for the team. A contract was made wherein Leo’s expenses would be covered by the club but in turn Messi was required to move to Spain. The funny thing is that, due to the absence of any formal papers, the contract was made on a piece of napkin!
6) Messi’s nature
Leo has been a very shy person right from his childhood and this trait continues to be in tact even now. Supposedly it is very difficult to make him talk on the phone. Most the important messages that have to be delivered to him and received from him take place through SMS.
7) Foodie
Messi used to be a food lover and addict in his initial days at Barcelona and his unbalanced diet resulted in the lack of his regular presence at the highest level. When Guardiola became Barca’s manager, he found out about it and engaged a physiotherapist to take care of Messi. He also reportedly removed the Coke vending machine from the training center which was utilized mostly by Leo.
8) Messi’s celebration
Many people like the calm and composed celebration which Leo does, which is concluded by the rise of both hands in the air. This gesture is to thank and pay tribute to his grandmother who was very close to him and passed away when he was 10. Leo believes she is up there and watching her from above and this is his way of showing that he would always be grateful to her.
9) Messi’s hobbies
Leo does not like to go outside and socialize much, unlike the other people of his generation. His most favourite things outside football is sleeping, eating, and of course, PlayStation. He tried watching the TV shows “Lost” and “Prison Break” but left them midway as he felt the story is too perplexing. Now that he is a father, he loves taking care of his son Thiago and spending time with him. According to him, he gets the greatest feeling in the world when his son laughs at him and acknowledges him when he comes back home after a long day. What father would not!
10) Women in Messi’s life
Before declaring about his girlfriend openly to the media in 2009, Leo was linked to a few women. Before the 2006 World Cup, he got injured and had come for recovery in his hometown. At that time, he was linked to hometown girl Macarena Lemos romantically. Besides this, he has also been linked to Luciana Salazar, a model of Argentina.
11) Footballing legacy
Messi comes from a family consisting of footballers. While father Jorge used to be a coach of a football club, he has cousins and relatives who are footballers. He has a cousin Maxi who plays for Club Olympia in Paraguay. Another cousin Emanuel Biancucci plays for Girona FC. It has also been found out that ex-Barcelona player Bojan Krkic might be distantly related to him.
12) Messi’s contributions towards charity
Messi established the Leo Messi Foundation in 2007. It deals with taking care of underprivileged and unhealthy children and funding them for their travel, treatment and other expenses. Leo humbly retorts that having suffered so much in childhood himself, he understands the pain that the children go through and this is the least he can give back to society.
