10 reasons to love Lionel Messi that go beyond football

There’s no debating the footballing genius of ‘la pulga’, as Lionel Messi is called. But, beyond the pitch, there is a humble, supportive and super family Messi that many don’t know.

O awesome.club invites you to get to know him better and will give you good reasons to admire him beyond his performances in the field.

Since he was little, what Messi liked to do most was play football with his brothers and cousin, betting on some soda. He later started playing for Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario, where he stayed until he was 12. At that time, he was diagnosed with a problem with his growth hormones. The family could not afford his treatment and asked Argentine club River Plate (a team interested in the prodigy player) to help them pay. With River’s refusal, he ended up at Barcelona, ​​where he would make history.

Their great friendship started when they were FC Barcelona players. Ronaldinho made Messi feel part of the team when he began his career in the top flight. Both remember how fondly his first goal was thanks to a ball pass from Ronaldinho.

This charismatic sportsman signs with his fingers pointed to the sky in memory of his late grandmother, who was the one who most encouraged him to do what he always wanted and become a professional player. He could not see his success as he passed away in 2008.

Messi donated his image for the promotion of the book 39 solidary stories alrededor del deporte, whose proceeds were destined to the Catalan Association of the Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes intellectual disability.

The player often participates in charitable events, such as friendly games, fundraising actions, awareness campaigns, donations and solidarity meetings for UNICEF.

The player remains the same person he was before fame. For him, fame hasn’t considerably changed the most important aspects of his life. He is surrounded as often as he can by his family and friends from his youth. He knows where he comes from and is grateful for his fans and followers.

The player met his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, when she was a child, as she is a cousin of Lucas Scaglia, who played in the youth categories of Newell’s with him. He was 9 years old when they met and since then they haven’t been apart.

In 2007, he created Fundación Leo Messi, whose objective is to help children and adolescents in situations of risk, especially in the areas of education and health. Through this Foundation, playgrounds and multi-sports parks were built, as well as areas for rehabilitation. The entity works not only with children from Argentina, but from several countries.

Messi’s family manages all his professional affairs: his father has been his agent since he was 14 years old, his older brother organizes his daily schedule and his publicity, and his mother and other brother are in charge of the Foundation’s management.

The imposing mascot of la pula is a Dogue de Bordeaux called Hulk. It was a gift from his wife. When the player published his photos with this big guy, it caused a real stir on social media due to the size of the dog. Some even started to joke that if Messi has such a big dog, Cristiano Ronaldo (who is much more alo and athletic) should have a Chihuahua.

As if his so many positive attitudes weren’t enough, this much-loved player rejected the proposal to play with the Spanish national football team, because he loves his country. And although he has already been criticized a few times for not having won important championships, Messi has always made it very clear that it is with the ‘albiceleste’ team that he wants to be champion.

Did you already know the story of Lionel Messi? Do you usually follow the player’s career?