Top 10 Secrets about Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers in history. His achievements on and off the pitch are unparalleled, making him a source of inspiration for aspiring footballers all over the world. But behind Messi’s success lies an array of secrets that very few people know about. Here is a list of ten secrets about Lionel Messi:

1. He was not expected to survive after birth due to medical complications – Doctors were pessimistic about Messi’s chances of survival when he was born prematurely with a growth hormone deficiency in 1987, as they predicted multiple health issues and life-threatening conditions. Fortunately, his parents decided to fight against all odds and got their son access to expensive treatments which saved his life.

2. Messi almost pursued tennis instead of football – Messi was an exceptionally talented tennis player as a child and he even joined the youth team of his local tennis club. However, upon realizing that football was his true passion, he chose it over tennis.

3. He almost gave up on football due to bullying and homesickness – When Messi moved from his home in Buenos Aires to Barcelona when he was 13 years old, he encountered bullying from teammates due to his small size and lack of knowledge about the Catalonian culture. This made him consider giving up on football altogether.

4. His parents took jobs in Spain so their son could pursue his dream – In order for Lionel to avail medical treatments and pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer, Messi’s father had to take up three jobs in Spain. Similarly, his mother was employed as a cleaner in Barcelona.

5. The Spanish Football Federation refused to grant him citizenship – Messi had to wait for five long years before the Spanish Football Federation decided to grant him dual citizenship status in 2005 which allowed him to play for the Spanish national team.

6. He has broken every record imaginable- Apart from breaking numerous records during his career, Messi also holds the unique distinction of being the only player ever to score five goals and assist two more during a single match in La Liga history.

7. He is an ordained Minister – While it is not widely known, Messi is officially a minister with the Universal Life Church Monastery after he got ordained online.

8. He was a UNICEF ambassador from 2010 to 2020 – Messi has partnered with UNICEF since 2010 and has made multiple donations for promoting children’s health and education initiatives.

9. He was recently named the most charitable athlete in the world – According to The Giving Back Fund, Messi is the world’s most generous athlete having donated approximately $75 million over the course of his career.

10. He will continue playing football even after retirement – Despite being 36 years old already, Messi still remains at the top of his game but he has stated that he intends to continue playing football even after retirement in order to stay connected with his beloved sport.

These are some of the secrets about Lionel Messi that not many people are aware of. Despite his immense success, Messi remains as humble and down-to-earth as ever. His journey is an inspiration for all aspiring footballers who dream of making it big in the sport someday.