Six Amazing Facts You Never Knew About Lionel Messi

Arguably, Barcelona legend, Lionel Messi, is the greatest of all time in world footballer. The little “merlin” has one of the most famous and trophy filled career of all time, but without a major success with his national team, Argentina.



Every success story begins small, with a principle that may or may not be great. At the end of every players’ career, the start is a key integral part in their success story.

This article will take a look into some of these things about Messi, which has played a role in the development of his scintillating career and a football phenomenon.

Below are the six interesting things about Messi you did not know about;

6. A love for coke and deficiency of growth hormone

Lionel Messi place of birth was Rosario, same with legendary Che Guevara.

Putting that aside, during his childhood days, he had a growth hormone deficiency with expensive drugs but there was a wide misconception about his treatment bill being taken care of by Barcelona when they snapped him up in 2001.

Contrarily, his treatment bill was paid by Argentina Social Security.

Lionel Messi was 13 when he signed for Barça, like other teenagers, he had a soft spot for Cola drinks, despite his growth hormone deficiency and the controversies surrounding it.

Messi’s addiction to the aerated drink prompted the decision of the club to remove all soda machines at La Masia because he’s a regular client.

5. The historic paper napkin that change world football

With the little wizard’s free goal scoring skills, Messi broke majority of football records but all began when Carlos Rexach, Barcelona Technical Secretary, was hypnotized by the supremacy of Messi at age 13.

Rexach was charmed and convinced beyond reasonable doubt with what he had watched but it was a case of “if the preferable is not available, the available becomes preferable”, he decided to seal off the deal on a piece of paper available at the time - a paper napkin. Oops!!!

To mark the beginning of a new era in the history of football, the paper napkin was preserved in a frame for years to come, and with their slogan “Barcelona are more than just a club”!

4. Leonel Mecci or Lionel Messi

Messi established himself in Spain, but the decibel of his success was loudest across the nooks and cranny of his beloved country, Argentina.

However, being the most precious thing in Barcelona around at the time, not everyone is aware of the presence of a genius, who would end up being loved and as well hated by South Americans.

When he was called up by Argentine Football Association to represent his country for Under 20s national team, no one knows his real name because he was the only one playing outside the shores of Argentina -a call was put through to a certain Leonel Mecci.

3. The anointed one with ungodly start

In a friendly game against Hungary on 17th August 2015, aged 18, Messi played his debut match for Argentina senior national team as a 63rd-minute substitute for Lisandro Lopez.

It ought to be a historic day to remember, as Messi started his cinderella love story with La Albiceleste but it was something not worthy of a promising talent.

It wasn’t quite long when he came on to find himself with the ball. He made a sprint, his trademark that gives defenders a nightmare, but in an attempt to stop the great one, it was a glimpse they got hold of and he put the ball behind the net.



However, while Messi was trying to shake off Hungarian international, Vilmos Vanczak, when he held the 18-year-old by his shirt, Messi hit him on the face with his elbow. The referee judged it to be an intentional act - I must confess and he was red carded before the world had a taste of the stuff he was made of.

With his unceremonious debut, it was made known that Messi wept in the team’s dressing room as he was ashamed of himself.

As of this moment, that has been his only red card for club and country. "42 seconds debut"

2. Inmessionate

Most times when describing the supremacy of Lionel Messi, words become supererogatory. This is not only because I’m not sound in vocabulary, but some dictionaries also experienced difficulty in writing about the achievements of little Messi.

A dictionary in Spain, Santillana, incorporated a new word into its book in February 2013 - Inmessionate.

Alejandro Sabella, the Argentine coach, in association with Pepsi, chose the word, an adjective, which simply interprets;

1. The greatest player of all time

2. Standard pattern of football with an immeasurable abilities for personal development

In addition, the Sweden football association also honoured Zlatan Ibrahimovic, their greatest footballer of all time, with inclusion of a new verb into Swedish dictionary, “zlatanera”, meaning “to dominate”!

1. The main reason he stands on the side in all team pictures

Despite his bizarre footballing skills, some parts of Leo are still humane.

Messi always appear on the left corner of team pictures with his teammates, but with a little different posture.

The reason is simply due to inferiority complex he had to pass through in his youthful years, when undoubtedly was the most talented among his teammates but yet to rule the footballing world.

With this position, he doesn’t have to bend his knees like his teammates and this posture projects him to be taller than them for a quality and perfect photograph.

These are things that tell us that, no matter how talented or odd or exceptional Leo is, Messi is also a mere mortal!

The legendary Messi’s nickname is “La Pulga”, meaning “The flea” but obviously, he doesn’t like being called as such. Because, it reminds him of his small body size.