Arguably one of the best players to have set foot on a football pitch, Lionel Messi is known for his goals, his dribbles, his one-on-ones, and his celebrations. What you didn’t know about Lionel Messi is that he is a down-to-earth person, loves eating and is a PlayStation junkie. Read more to find things that you didn’t know about Lionel Messi.
Lionel Messi took injections to the leg for 3 years
No greatness is achieved without pain and sacrifice, and no man is made perfect. This might be hard to believe but we bet you didn’t know that Messi had to have growth hormones injected into his leg every night for 3 years. He had a deficiency of growth hormones growing up. FC Barcelona bore the cost of the entire treatment at the time.
Lionel Messi is a Food Lover
Being a top athlete in today’s age requires staying away from junk food, fast foods and of course alcohol. However, what you didn’t know about Lionel Messi is that he is an out and out foodie whose favorite dish is Milanesa Napolitana, an Argentine dish made of cheese, tomatoes, onions, and spices. The Barca legend has a fascination for simple foods that soothe the soul, his favorite being schnitzel.
Every goal is dedicated to Grandma
Lionel Messi spent the early years of his life with his grandmom, who took him to practice and watched his matches. He lost her at the age of ten and still loves her dearly. You might be acquainted with Messi’s trademark celebration, but what you didn’t know about Lionel Messi is that he points to the heavens to remember his grandmother after every single goal he scores.
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Messi has relatives from all over Europe
Lionel Messi was born and raised in Argentina and plays his trade in Spain but what you didn’t know about Lionel Messi is that he had Catalan grandparents, a dad with Italian roots, a mom with Lebanese roots and relatives from England.
Lionel Messi is all about PlayStation
While fans might be fighting to get Messi in their team in video games, the fact is the legend himself is a PlayStation fanatic, with most of his time outside the field spent on the console. That has reduced significantly now, with kids coming into the picture and a wife to take care of.
Leo signed his first contract on a napkin
Here’s another thing you didn’t know about Lionel Messi. While scouts from all over Europe were engaged in luring him to their club, Messi, then playing for Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, ultimately ended up signing for FC Barcelona on a piece of a napkin as the Barca first team director was given an ultimatum and had to improvise on the spot.
Lionel Messi loves dogs and tattoos
While his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo has never gotten inked, Messi is a huge fan of getting tattoos on his body and has both his mother’s face and his son’s image tattooed on his body. The Barcelona striker is fond of dogs as well and has three dogs in his house in Barcelona.
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Messi speaks a different language when drunk
This might come as a shock to many, but we bet you didn’t know that Lionel Messi speaks in Catalan when drunk. He is fluent in Spanish and understands Catalan, but prefers to speak the language only when in an intoxicated state. Strange!!
Lionel Messi and Che Guevara have something in common
Great Communist leader Che Guevara, Lionel Messi and another footballing great, Diego Maradona – all of them come from the city of Rosario. Messi is a huge fan of Maradona, an idol of Argentine and World football, while he has been seen to speak highly of the leader Guevara as well, as he shares the culture and ethics of these people.
Messi’s international debut lasted only a minute
Lionel Messi made his international bow against Hungary on 18th August 2005. He lasted only a minute on the pitch after coming on as he was sent off by the referee on elbowing Hungarian defender Vilmos Vanczak. Little did the world know that the red card would have no effect on the greatness he would go on to achieve for Argentina and Barcelona.