Lionel Messi is a professional footballer who operates as a winger for Paris Saint-Germain and the Argentina national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time because of his remarkable consistency and success in both club and international football.
The 35-year-old recently managed to help Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar which is probably the highest point of his playing career.
However, Messi had to overcome some struggles as well when he was emerging as a footballer at Barcelona after being diagnosed with a growth hormone disorder. The Catalan club decided to pay his medical bills and he went on to become a legend at the Nou Camp before his big move to Paris Saint-Germain back in 2021.
Why Did Barcelona Decide To Pay For The Medical Bills Of Lionel Messi When He Was 13?
Barcelona opted to pay for Messi’s medical bills so that they could recruit him to join their academy when he was just 13. The cost for his treatments were quite high, $900 per month which his family back in Argentina couldn’t afford. The Catalan giants helped him during that time and Messi repaid their faith by going on taste a lot of success with them at the highest level.
Is Messi Suffering From A Rare Disorder?
Yes. Messi used to suffer from a rare disorder. He was diagnosed with a growth hormone disorder at a very young age. At the time, the Argentine wing wizard had a 4’2″ frame. Later on in his life, Barcelona listed him at 5’7″ which was the average height for an Argentina male.
Messi received treatments in the form of injections of human growth hormone. However, his use of the drug was likely discontinued after he became an adult.
This season, Messi has been playing some of his football after scoring 19 goals and picking up 19 assists in 27 matches for both his club and country across all competitions.
Even though Messi was naturally gifted, he had to go through a lot of struggles off the field due to his growth hormone deficiency. We hope that he has fully recovered and continues to play at a high level for a few more years, especially after his recent World Cup success with Argentina in Qatar.
