According to an interview that the former Barcelona attacker gave and was later published in his biography, Guillem Balagu.

“When I was 11 years old they discovered that I had a growth hormone deficiency and I had to start a treatment to help me to grow. Every night I had to stick a needle into my legs, night after night after night, every day of the week, and this over a period of three years.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner added:

“I was so small, they said that when I went onto the pitch, or when I went to school, I was always the smallest of all. It was like this until I finished the treatment and I then started to grow properly.”

The book goes on to mention an interview with Salvadoran sports newspaper  El Grafico , where Lionel Messi discussed the issue in added detail. It read:

“The people who saw me injecting myself were ꜱurprised and felt ill. It didn’t worry me and it didn’t hurt. Wherever I went I took the syringe with me in its case and put it straight into the fridge, if I went to a friend’s house, for example.

He added:

“I would then take it out and put it straight into my quadriceps. Every night it was like this. One day one leg, the next day, the other one.”

Learn more about the condition called Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), which Lionel Messi, a current PSG star, was diagnosed with at the age of 11

Lionel Messi, a current star for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), was given a GHD diagnosis when he was only 11 years old. It is a medical diꜱorder brought on by a lack of growth hormone, which the pituitary gland produces.

His family couldn’t afford the $900 per month required for the therapy, and River Plate and Newell’s Old Boys were unwilling to foot the bill (h/t Bleacher Report). He relocated to Barcelona in 2000, and a year later, at the age of 14, he finished his therapy.

Messi began his therapy at a height of 4 feet, 2 inches. His present height of 5 feet 7 inches demonstrates the success of the GHD therapy he had.

Before moving on a free transfer to PSG, Messi spent a historic 21 years with the Catalan powerhouse.

Given that the 35-year-PSG old’s contract expires in the summer, a return to Barcelona may potentially be on the cards.

If Messi travels to Saudi Arabia to play, he will earn a staggering sum of money.

The Al Hilal club is prepared to offer Messi a salary of up to 220 million euros annually, according to a source from Forbes. This is the same amount of money that Cristiano Ronaldo makes at the Al Nassr Club.

At the conclusion of this season, Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will expire.

The wealthy French club has halted contract talks with El Pulga due to Financial Fair Play pressure, the publication L’Équipe recently reported.

If Messi travels to Saudi Arabia to play, he is paid the same as Cristiano Ronaldo.

PSG may need to slash the majority of the pay money to balance the books in order to survive.

Messi’s future is thus seen as a big subject.

A Forbes source claims that the Al Hilal club in Saudi Arabia is particularly interested in hiring the Argentine superstar.

Al Nassr’s main opponent in Saudi Arabia is Al Hilal.

As a result, Al Hilal is searching for methods to bring in Messi now that Al Nassr possesses Cristiano Ronaldo.

It is important to note that Al Hilal is prepared to give El Pulga a very substantial compensation.

Messi would thus be paid up to 220 million euros annually if he accepts Al Hilal’s offer.

The income level is the same as that of C. Ronaldo of Al Nassr.

Salary, bonuses, and funds for image marketing are all included in this sum.

Saudi Arabia is pushing hard to host the World Cup in 2030. As a result, they want Messi and Ronaldo to be a part of the advertising campaign. Due to the need to sign two outstanding football players, the teams competing in this competition (owned by the Saudi Royal Family) do not skimp on funding.

Messi’s agent and father, Jorge Messi, was photographed on March 14 at a posh hotel in Riyadh. He was accompanied by two Saudi royal family members. According to Mundo Deportivo, Jorge Messi is visiting the Middle East for business purposes this time.

Also, Mr. Jorge Messi will meet with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sports and Tourism on this business trip to go through a variety of initiatives (including a project to build a youth football training academy).

Yet, a lot of people questioned if Jorge Messi really used this chance to talk to the Al Hilal club.

Mr. Jorge Messi will go to Barcelona after a business trip to Saudi Arabia.

Fans are unaware of his motivation for visiting this location.

Would he have a link to allow his kid to rejoin Barcelona, his previous team?

El Pulga’s future will become very contentious in the near future as Inter Miami Club (USA) expresses interest in hiring this player as well.