Barca is preparing to enter the 2020/21 season. And fortunately, Lionel Messi was still there, wearing the Blaugrana shirt, going on the field, scoring goals and leading them to victory.

After the burofax incident, the deceptions of President Josep Bartomeu and the tearful farewell to his close friend Luis Suarez, something broke in Messi. But Barca doesn’t need to worry. On the field is still the Messi that everyone knows, with his professional attitude and genius performances.

The Messi – Barca era continues, with brilliant chapters, instead of ending at 20 years.

Yes, also in those September days 20 years ago, Messi took his first step in Barcelona. He and his father came to this city to look for opportunities. An opportunity to develop like other normal children. At that time, Messi was 13 years old but only 1m48 tall.

Messi was only 1m27 tall when he was 9 years old (Photo: Internet)

From the age of 9, in his hometown of Rosario, Messi created the impression of a future football superstar. But the problem is that he is too skinny and stunted. Quique Dominguez, Messi’s former teacher at Newell’s Old Boys, recalled that in the locker room, Messi always turned his back to everyone when putting on his shirt. He feels guilty and doesn’t want anyone to see his skinny body made up of bones.

At that time, Messi was only 1m27 tall, 10 centimeters shorter than other children his age. Doctors said he had a rare growth hormone deficiency that resulted in short stature. It is said that the legendary Diego Maradona also had similar problems as a child, with his small stature. Maradona later became the Golden Boy, thanks to the special treatment of Paladino, a doctor who was widely criticized for his method of stimulating muscle growth in boxers.

Messi also received the same treatment, with injections directly into the area under the skin every night to help the body produce more growth hormone. Initially, his parents took turns injecting Messi. After that, Messi did it himself.

For many years, Messi needed syringes every night (Photo: Internet)

“Every night I had to put a needle in my leg, day after day, week after week, continuously for three years,” Messi said, “It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t something great either. easy to remember”.

This treatment method is effective, but too expensive. The cost of up to 1,500 USD per month is far beyond Messi’s family’s ability. During the first 2 years he was supported by health insurance. Unfortunately, that support was cut off after the economic crisis in Argentina. Messi’s family was forced to turn differently.

Newell’s Old Boys leadership reassured them not to worry. But the 300 pesos they gave was too little, and it was only once. River Plate was also impressed by Messi’s talent, but when they saw the monthly payment of $1,500, they refused.

And that’s why father Jorge brought Messi to Barcelona. The first night in the charming city on the Mediterranean coast, Messi and his father stayed at the Plaza Hotel at the foot of Montjuic mountain. They waited until the next morning to go to Barca and participate in the tryout.

Messi has created an unprecedented era of brilliance at Barca (Photo: Getty Images)

That practice session didn’t have much meaning because Technical Director Charly Rexach… was away. It wasn’t until a month later that he returned to see Messi’s performance. After only 10 minutes, he asserted that he had to sign a contract with the boy from Rosario immediately. “Even if you’re from Mars, you can see how special Messi is just at a glance,” Rexach said.

Then everyone knew, Rexach signed a contract with Messi on a napkin, officially opening an unprecedented brilliant era at Barca with the Argentine genius. Messi stopped taking injections before the age of 15 and now he is 1m70 tall, taller than Maradona (1m65).

Physically, Messi is completely normal. Only his talent is not normal at all. Of course it does not come naturally, but is based on strong will and desire to improve. No 11-year-old child can inject himself into the thigh every night before bed thinking it will be useful in the future. But Messi did. And a genius came into the world.