From his touching personal life to his wonderful philanthropy, there’s so much to love about Messi aside from his prowess on the pitch. We all know that he’s one of the best footballers of all time, but few know these other awesome facts about the world’s favorite player that showcase his splendor on and off the field. We didn’t think we could love him more than we already did. We were wrong.
The Growth Hormone Deficiency
Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency when he was eleven. When he was signed to Barcelona at the age of thirteen, they offered to pay his medical bills as part of the contract, which explains why he’s a normal sized person, but a little bit on the short side.
The Napkin Contract
Messi’s first contract to play for Barcelona was written on a napkin. When the scout saw how good he was, he didn’t want to waste a moment, so he reached for the first thing he could find. It was either that, or the nearest person’s forehead, so I think a napkin made the most sense. It’s now framed and hanging in Messi’s lawyer’s office.
The Goals Against Every Team in a Row
Messi scored against every single team in La Liga consecutively. Imagine that. Every single team in the league, one after the other, was scored on by one player. That would be impressive in any league in the world, but La Liga? One of the top tier leagues? That’s just unbelievable. He might be a god.
The Crazy Amount of Money
Every day, Messi makes around $128,000. His net worth is $180 million. If Barcelona ended their contract with him early, they would have to pay him $330,000, which would bring his net worth up to a half a billion. Why anyone would even consider dropping him from the team is inconceivable, but it’s still interesting to note.
The Leo Messi Foundation
The Leo Messi Foundation is particularly focused on the wellness of children in impoverished situations, supplying access to health care, education, and sports. He also funds research, training, and facilities in the medical field, and his Messi and Friends soccer matches are huge charitable events. Needless to say, he’s a great man on and off the pitch.
The Most Goals in a Single Season
In just one season, Messi scored 73 goals for Barcelona, an all-time record. No other player has scored that many goals at a major club in Europe, and to be honest, no one has even really come close. The second most goals is 66, and he also has the ninth most and sixteenth most for different seasons. Messi is ridiculous.
