Messi Reveals the Truth Behind His Growth Treatment
Lionel Messi opened up about the medical treatment that shaped his childhood and nearly changed the course of his career before his arrival at Barcelona.
The story of Lionel Messi is inseparable from Barcelona, the club where he became a legend and left an everlasting mark on world soccer. However, long before he shined in Europe, the Argentine star faced significant challenges that put his future in the sport at risk. One of the most decisive was the growth hormone treatment he underwent as a child in Rosario.
In a recent interview, Messi, now a player for Inter Miami, spoke candidly about the medical process that influenced his departure from Newell’s Old Boys and nearly led him down a completely different path before his move to Spain.
A Costly Treatment and an Unsustainable Situation
The forward explained that the hormone treatment was extremely expensive for his family. Initially, Newell’s Old Boys agreed to cover part of the cost, with additional support coming from his father’s company. Even so, the financial assistance was neither simple nor consistent.
According to Messi, his mother was forced to make long daily trips across Rosario to collect small amounts of money meant to pay for the treatment. On several occasions, she returned home empty-handed after being told the funds were unavailable. The situation caused growing frustration within the family, particularly for his mother, who eventually reached a breaking point.
Messi was careful to clarify that his frustration was never directed at the club as an institution, but rather at the individual responsible for managing the process at the time. He stressed that this distinction is important to fully understand what happened and to avoid placing unfair blame on Newell’s as a whole.
River Plate and the Turning Point Toward Barcelona
Amid that uncertainty, another option emerged that could have altered soccer history: River Plate. The young Messi trained with the Buenos Aires club, received sporting approval, and was even offered support for his medical treatment. However, the move ultimately collapsed due to difficulties in securing his release from Newell’s.
That setback closed the door on River Plate and soon opened another—this time with Barcelona. The Catalan club decided to fully commit to Messi, taking responsibility for his treatment and offering him the chance to develop at La Masia.
