Lionel Messi’s Life, Career, and the Tragedy That Brought Him and His Wife Together

This article appeared in thedaddest.com and has been published here with permission.

Having enjoyed a dazzling career with Barcelona, PSG, and Argentina, Lionel Messi is constantly considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time. While his raw talent and unwavering dedication are unquestionable, perhaps the secret to Messi's success lies in the love and support of his wife, Antonela. Let's delve into the remarkable story of Lionel Messi and discover how Antonela molded him into the man he is today.

Soccer in His Veins

Since his early childhood in Rosario, Argentina, Lionel Messi knew that soccer was his passion. At the age of eight, he was recruited to join the youth system of his hometown club, Newell's Old Boys.

Twitter // @MessiArena

During his time in the youth academy, soccer was not the only thing on Messi's mind. While he did well to leave his mark on the pitch, Messi would soon develop friendships that would change his life as he knew it. One person who'd make an ever-lasting impact was his childhood friend, Lucas Scaglia.

Meeting Antonela

After forming a fast friendship, Lucas invited Messi to his home where he'd spend his summer with the Scaglia family. While at Lucas's home, a young girl caught Messi's eye.

Twitter // @khalidawyy

This was none other than Lucas's cousin, Antonela. In fact, one of Messi's trainers once noticed the young boy waiting impatiently by the door as his teammates were changing. When he asked what the rush was, Lucas's father told him that the weekend was approaching, meaning that Messi would get the chance to see Antonela at the Scaglia home.

Receiving Tough News

Messi first met Antonela when he and Lucas were playing Playstation at the Scaglia house. Then, both nine years old, Messi and Antonela would play together in the streets with their friends, where their friendship would bloom.

Twitter // @IJaSport

Two years later, Messi received news that could potentially jeopardize his ambition to be a professional soccer player. He was diagnosed with a growth hormone disorder. Still, he and his parents weren't about to let that get in the way of his dreams.

Determining the Path Forward

Messi's parents Jorge and Cecelia were dedicated to helping their son overcome his difficulties. They got their son on a regimen of nightly growth hormone injections, however, this soon proved to be highly expensive, costing several hundreds of dollars per month.

Twitter // @perfilretro

Initially, with his father's health insurance subsidizing just the first two years of treatments, Newell's agreed to help fund Messi's treatment. Unfortunately, the club reneged on its promise, leaving Messi's parents searching for a new club for their son where he could get the help he needed.