In a recent interview featured in his biography by Guillem Balagu, Lionel Messi revealed the difficult journey he faced as a child on his way to achieving immense success. At the age of 11, it was discovered that Messi had a growth hormone deficiency, requiring him to undergo a treatment to aid his growth. This treatment involved a nightly routine of injecting needles into his legs, a process he endured every single day for three years.
The renowned seven-time Ballon d’Or winner shared his childhood experience of being the smallest on the pitch and at school until he underwent treatment for growth hormone deficiency. In an interview with Salvadoran sports newspaper El Grafico, Lionel Messi opened up about his daily routine of injecting himself with the necessary hormones without feeling any worry or pain. Learn more about GHD, a condition Messi was diagnosed with at 11 years old, causing a lack of growth hormone production by the pituitary gland.
Unfortunately, Messi’s family couldn’t afford the costly therapy required for his condition, and neither River Plate nor Newell’s Old Boys were willing to cover the expenses. He eventually moved to Barcelona for treatment, where he successfully completed it by the age of 14, growing from 4 feet, 2 inches to his current height of 5 feet, 7 inches.
After spending an illustrious 21 years with Barcelona, Messi joined PSG as a free agent. With his contract set to expire in the summer, there are speculations of a potential return to Barcelona. Reports suggest that Al Hilal club in Saudi Arabia is willing to offer Messi a hefty annual salary of up to 220 million euros, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s earnings at Al Nassr Club.
As the season ends, Messi’s contract with PSG will come to an end. Talks of a contract extension have been put on hold due to financial constraints faced by the French club under Financial Fair Play regulations, as reported by L’Équipe.
If Messi decides to travel to Saudi Arabia for a match, he will be paid the same amount as Cristiano Ronaldo. PSG may have to significantly reduce player wages to stay financially stable. This has sparked interest and speculation about Messi’s future. A source from Forbes suggests that Al Hilal club in Saudi Arabia is keen on signing the Argentine star. Al Nassr, another Saudi club, is a rival to Al Hilal and currently has Cristiano Ronaldo on their team. With this in mind, Al Hilal is brainstorming ways to bring Messi on board, offering him a hefty compensation of up to 220 million euros annually. This sum includes salary, bonuses, and funds for image marketing. Saudi Arabia’s strong push to host the 2030 World Cup has prompted the desire to have Messi and Ronaldo as part of their promotional activities. Therefore, both players are being lured with lucrative offers by teams associated with the Saudi Royal Family for their advertising campaign.
