In an interview published in his biography by Guilleм Bаlаgu, the former Barcelona forward revealed that at the age of 11, doctors discovered he had a deficiency in growth hormones. As a result, he had to undergo a treatment that involved injecting a needle into his legs every night for three years, without fail, to help him grow.
The winner of seven Ballon d’Or awards shared that during his childhood, he was always the smallest one on the field or in school. However, after receiving treatment, he was able to grow properly.
In the book, there is an interview with Salvadoran sports newspaper El Grafico, where Lionel Messi provides more details about injecting himself. He mentions that people who saw him injecting himself were surprised and felt ill, but it didn’t bother or hurt him. He carried the syringe with him in its case and put it directly into the fridge wherever he went, even at a friend’s house. Then, he would take it out and inject it into his quadriceps every night, alternating between legs each day.
Discover more about Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), the medical condition that Lionel Messi, a prominent player for PSG, was diagnosed with at the age of 11. GHD is caused by a deficiency in growth hormone that is normally produced by the pituitary gland.
Due to his family’s financial situation and the reluctance of River Plate and Newell’s Old Boys to cover the $900 monthly cost, Messi had to relocate to Barcelona in 2000 to continue his growth hormone deficiency therapy. At the age of 14, he completed the treatment, having started when he was just 4 feet 2 inches tall. His current height of 5 feet 7 inches is a testament to the success of the therapy. Messi spent an incredible 21 years with Barcelona before moving on a free transfer to PSG. With his PSG contract set to expire in the summer and rumors of a potential return to Barcelona, anything is possible. Should he decide to play in Saudi Arabia, he stands to earn a staggering sum of money.
According to a source from Forbes, the Al Hilal club is willing to pay Messi up to 220 million euros annually, which is the same as what Cristiano Ronaldo currently earns at Al Nassr Club. As Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is set to expire at the end of this season, the wealthy French club has halted contract talks with the Argentine superstar due to Financial Fair Play pressure, as reported by L’Équipe. If Messi decides to play in Saudi Arabia, he will be paid the same as Ronaldo. PSG may have to reduce their payroll significantly to balance the books and survive. Consequently, Al Hilal, which is Al Nassr’s main opponent in Saudi Arabia, is particularly interested in hiring Messi. They are exploring ways to bring him in now that Al Nassr possesses Cristiano Ronaldo.
It is worth noting that al Hilal is willing to offer Messi a substantial amount of compensation, which could total up to 220 million euros per year if he accepts their offer. This income level is equivalent to that of Ronaldo of al Nassr, including salary, bonuses, and funds for image marketing. Saudi Arabia is keen to host the World Cup in 2030, so they want Messi and Ronaldo to be part of the advertising campaign. As a result, the teams competing in this competition (owned by the Saudi Royal Family) are not skimping on funding, and they need to sign two outstanding football players. Messi’s agent and father, Jorge Messi, was seen at a posh hotel in Riyadh accompanied by two Saudi royal family members. According to Mundo Deportivo, Jorge Messi is visiting the Middle East for business purposes this time. Additionally, Mr. Jorge Messi will meet with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sports and Tourism on this business trip to go through a variety of initiatives, including a project to build a youth football training academy. However, many people question whether Jorge Messi really used this opportunity to talk to the al Hilal club.
After a business trip to Saudi Arabia, Jorge Messi will be heading to Barcelona, although it is unclear what his reasons for visiting this location are. Some speculations suggest that he may be attempting to facilitate his child’s return to Barcelona, his previous team. The future of El Pulga (Lionel Messi) is becoming increasingly controversial, with Inter Miami Club expressing interest in hiring the player.