Messi

by Luca Caioli

  Gustavo Ariel Rodas, aka Billy, the other star of that team, is the antithesis of Leo. Or, to put it another way, the proof that possessing a natural talent does not guarantee success. Billy, an attacking midfielder from the ’86 team with extraordinary technical abilities, is also from Rosario but was born in a shanty town. At fourteen he was a substitute in the Newell’s first team and he had his first child. Before his sixteenth birthday he debuted in the first division and everyone predicted a bright future. Today, at 22 and with two children to call his own, he is lost to oblivion. ‘It happens to many players who come from the slums, from poverty,’ explains Vecchio. ‘Football helps them escape their misery, but afterwards, if it doesn’t suit them, they return to the slum, they fall into alcohol, drug use, desperation. Education is the definitive difference. In Leo’s case, he has a father and mother who have supported him and helped him become what he is today. I believe very strongly in family environment as one of the factors in a footballer’s success.’ Ernesto Vecchio still has time for one more anecdote, the most juicy of all: ‘We were playing against Torito, a club from our league. Leo was sick and I didn’t want to make him play. I kept him on the bench. There were only a few minutes left before the final whistle and we were losing 1-0, so I went over to Leo and I said: “Do you fancy playing?” He said yes. He warmed up and just before he went on I yelled to him: “Win me the match!” And he did – in five minutes he netted two goals and turned the score around.’ Nothing out of the ordinary­ seeing as, between championships, tournaments and friendlies, the Flea scored around 100 goals a season.

  In 2000, the tenth league is the last that thirteen-year-old Leo plays in with the ’87 Machine, under the direction of Adrián Coria. They win it at the Bella Vista ground, where the first team trains. And it is then that, on 3 September, just two weeks before his departure for Barcelona, La Capital prints the first interview, a double-page spread: ‘Lionel Andrés Messi, a little leper who’s a real handful.’ The introduction goes something like this: ‘He is a tenth-division player and he is the team’s playmaker. As a boy he is not only one of the most promising junior lepers, but he also has a huge future ahead of him, because, despite his height, he can go past one, past two, beat all the defenders and score goals, but above all, he has fun with the ball.’

  And next, a barrage of questions. Here are just a few of his answers:

  Idols: my father and my godfather Claudio

  Favourite players: my brother and my cousin

  Favourite team: Newell’s

  Hobby: listening to music

  Favourite book: the Bible

  Favourite film: Baby’s Day Out

  Possible career: PE teacher

  Objectives: to finish secondary school

  Aims: to make it into the first team

  Happiest moment: when we became champions of the tenth league

  Saddest moment: when my grandmother passed away

  A dream: to play in the Newell’s first team

  A memory: when my grandmother first took me to play football

  Humility: is something a human being should never lose

  What Newell’s means: everything, the best.

  Chapter 6

  He was a Gardel

  Conversation with Adrián Coria

  The television is on. On the table, the computer is running. Adrián Coria, ex-Newell’s player and ex-coach of the lepers’ youth teams, is on vacation and working from home. But it is always a pleasure to reminisce about one of his ex-players.

  Let’s begin with your first impressions when you saw him play.

  ‘At that time there was a lot of talk about Leandro Depetris, a little blond boy who went to Milan aged eleven. Everyone was saying wonderful things about him. I disagreed. I always used to say to a friend of mine: “Leo will be ten times better than Depetris. When he grows up he’ll be greater than Maradona – and I’m a huge fan of Diego.”’

  How could you be so certain about predicting such a great future for a twelve-year-old boy?

  ‘When you saw him you would think: this kid can’t play ball. He’s a dwarf, he’s too fragile, too small. But immediately you’d realise that he was born different, that he was a phenomenon and that he was going to be something impressive. Why? Because he was explosive, he had a command that I had never seen on a football pitch. He’s Formula One, a Ferrari. He anticipated the next step, he had moves – one-on-one he’d make mincemeat of you. He dominated the ball, always on the ground, always glued to his foot. He left behind all the big boys who still didn’t have good control of movement and coordination. He was 1.2m tall. He dazzled against central defenders of 1.8m. He made a huge difference. And he had a strong temperament – he was competitive, he liked to win. I have never seem him resign himself to any result. He wanted to win every game.’

  What position did he play?

  ‘Behind the strikers. I used a 4-3-1-2 formation; with me, Lionel always played freely or in the hole. During a match it was impressive to watch him pick off his opponents. The others wanted to take him down, they knew of his abilities and they tried to stop him. He’d get kicked at from all sides. But him … nothing. He never complained. On the contrary, it seemed that fouls spurred him on, the more they went for him, the more he stood up to them. He would go after the ball and within a few moments he was already in front of goal. He won matches all on his own, so much so that they used to say to me: “You don’t direct this team when Leo’s on the pitch.”’

  Any goal or match that stands out in particular?

  ‘There were goals of all different types. Matches? With him we won them all. He was a Gardel [in other words, a legend, like the famous tango singer Carlos Gardel].’

  Did he listen to the advice of the coach?

  ‘Yes, he was respectful. He paid attention. He never said “I’m playing”, he never said “I’m the best”. His teammates adored him. The only thing was … he didn’t like exercises. He loved the ball. That’s why I once had to send him off during training. I’m not an ogre or a sergeant major, but I’ve always liked people to take things seriously. We were doing a lap, and he kept playing around with the ball. I called to him once, twice, but it was like he took no notice … Finally I said to him: “Give me the ball, get changed and go home.” Ten minutes later I saw him with his bag on his shoulder, glued to the wire fence, watching the pitch. I felt bad and it saddened me to see him like that. “You left without saying goodbye,” I yelled over to him. He came over to say goodbye and I sent him back to the changing room so that he could rejoin the practice. He was a shy kid with a tough character, but that was the only time I had to say something to him.’

  What did you think when he went to Spain?

  ‘That Newell’s didn’t take a chance on him, they didn’t make enough of a financial effort, they didn’t want to spend money on a thirteen-year-old kid. I think they didn’t realise the value of what was right in front of them.’

  And now, what do you think of him?

  ‘It seems to me that he has grown an enormous amount in Europe – in terms of football. But he still hasn’t reached his full potential.’

  Fame, celebrity, money … can they detract from the game?

  ‘I think fame has helped him grow, because he knows how to use his head. And he hasn’t changed. He is still the same humble boy. I ran into him recently. We were just finishing our training, they were starting. He saw me. He left the warm-up. He came over to say hello and gave me his shirt. My players couldn’t believe it and they asked me if they could meet him, or if I could ask him for another shirt.

  ‘That’s just one example. It had been a while since I had seen him … but he seemed to me to be the same kid who trained at Bella Vista.’

  Chapter 7

  Size: small

  31 January 1997

  Doctor Diego Schwarsztein remembers precisely the date of the first appointment: 31 January, his birthday. That was the day he met Lionel. He was nine and a half, and his parents, co
ncerned about their third son’s limited growth, had brought him to the doctor’s consultation room at the Clinic for Glands and Internal Medicine, number 1764 Córdoba street, in central Rosario.

  ‘It was a consultation about small stature, of which I do many each day,’ recalls the doctor. Leo measured 1.27m; he was not a star, he was not a renowned footballer, nor even a professional, he was just playing junior football at Newell’s. ‘And I have always been a lepers fan [to prove it, there is a picture of his son underneath the glass on his desk, at a match where the Red and Blacks scored a goal against Boca]. This helped me to establish a good rapport with the patient. We used to talk about football, the only topic of conversation that would conquer the little boy’s shyness.’

  Numerous appointments, more than a year of investigation, complex tests, biochemical analyses and clinics. ‘Because only tests can determine if we’re dealing with a hormonal problem or if it’s simply a case of finding ourselves up against what is usually known as a “late bloomer” – a child whose growth rhythm differs from that of his contemporaries, who develops later.’

  To clarify, the doctor points out the significant dates and time periods in a clinical history, indicating the normal periods which are necessary in these cases in order to reach a diagnosis: growth hormone deficiency.

  The explanation: ‘The glands aren’t making any growth hormone,’ says Schwarsztein. ‘To make a readily understood comparison, it’s a case analogous to that of a diabetic, whose pancreas does not produce insulin. In this case, we’re dealing with the substance needed in order to grow. The difference is that diabetics represent seven per cent of the world’s population, whereas Messi’s case is not very common: it affects one in every 20 million, according to statistics. And it’s worth noting that it’s not hereditary. Just look at Leo’s brothers, or María Sol, his little sister, who is decidedly tall.’ How did Leo deal with this news? ‘I remember,’ says the doctor, ‘that he had a very healthy relationship with his illness; he dealt with all the tests – even the most invasive ones – and the therapy, without too much trouble. His family helped him a lot with that – a first-class family.’

  Once the problem was identified, the endocrinologist began a programme of growth hormone treatment. One subcutaneous injection every day for anywhere between three and six years, until the patient has developed sufficiently.

  How can the development be evaluated? How can one measure the potential for growth? With an x-ray of the hand. The doctor shows them at different stages of development: age nine, ten, eleven, up to eighteen years old. He points out the blank spaces between one bone and another and explains that when these disappear it means that the patient has reached their potential – they will not grow any more. Then he adds: ‘Nothing allows us to overcome genetics, but if difficulties arise we can help it along. I should emphasise that those who genuinely have growth hormone deficiency have it for life. That’s why it is necessary to intervene.’

  In the case of Messi, this definitely was not some kind of experiment. He was not, as someone has written, a lab rat. The doctor loses his patience and says emphatically: ‘It was never an experiment. For many years growth hormone has been used in such cases, more than 30 years in fact. It used to be extracted from cadavers, but there was a risk of CJD. Since the mid-1980s it has been produced through genetic engineering. The long-term side effects are not confirmed. But we haven’t had any problems in any of our cases so far – like in Messi’s case, where it is imperative that we replace what is lacking.’

  So, why are growth hormones such a taboo subject, and why is it one of the most commonly used products when it comes to drug taking among sportsmen?

  ‘Administered to an adult without a deficiency, in other words to a person with a normal level of secretion, growth hormone serves as an anabolic steroid to increase muscle­ mass and decrease fat tissue. It increases physical output and performance,’ explains the doctor. But the risks to one’s health are extremely high: it can trigger anything from liquid­ retention to hyperthyroidism, from high blood sugar levels to cranial hypertension, and there is also a risk of tumours.

  Despite having dealt with suspicions and fears, in both Argentina and Spain, there remains an issue about which much has been written – although generally without rhyme or reason – namely the cost of treatment, which can amount to 600,000 Argentine pesos a year (roughly equivalent to £100,000). It is a considerable sum, which may well have pushed the Messi family to depart for Spain, since Barcelona was the only club willing to take care of the expenses.

  ‘It always caught my eye, the story in the media that the father took the footballer away because they wouldn’t pay for the treatment here. It’s not definite that they didn’t want to pay here. The father’s social security took care of the treatment, along with the Acindar Foundation. It’s not certain that they had to leave the country for that reason. Because here, if the parents have social security or medical insurance the treatment is approved by the Programa Médico Obligatorio [Compulsory Medical Programme] and if they don’t have cover, there is the National Advisory Committee for Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency which has administered free treatment since 1991.’

  It’s a version that contrasts with that of the Messi family. According to Jorge, the father, the medical insurance and the Acindar social security stopped paying the total cost of the treatment after two years. Seeing the child’s promise, the Newell’s authorities initially agreed to cover part of the costs (every other injection). But little by little, the payments began to arrive late. ‘We went so many times to ask for the money, that in the end my wife said to me: “I’m not going to ask any more.” And that’s what happened,’ says Jorge, who did everything he could to find a solution to the problem.

  ‘River had opened an office in Rosario. It was a chance for the boy, and also a way of putting the pressure on Newell’s. We went to Buenos Aires for a trial. Leo trained in Belgrano and during the first match, when they brought him onto the pitch, they realised what he was worth, that he wasn’t just some little kid. “We want him,” they told me,’ recalls Jorge Messi, ‘“but only if you bring us the paperwork, if you can get Newell’s to agree to let him go.” In other words, they didn’t want to get into trouble with Newell’s. So nothing was done about it. Newell’s found out about it and they asked me not to take him away. They made other promises. Then along came Barcelona …’

  With the matter more or less cleared up, there is one fact about which the Messis and Schwarsztein agree: ‘The hormone deficiency and its treatment are nothing more than an anecdote – what really matter are the boy’s footballing skills.’ And here, getting up from his chair and pacing around his study, the doctor unleashes a series of reflections of a man passionate about football. He speaks with great fervour about the quick sprint; about control of the ball; about speed; about ‘Leo’s limits, which nobody can pinpoint; the porteños [Buenos Aires locals] who are jealous of a player who has hardly set foot in the capital, because here, in order to be successful, it’s imperative that you play for one of the big Buenos Aires teams. Look at Batistuta – he was from Newell’s, but he only became famous in Argentina when he went to Boca.’

  Let us leave football aside for a moment and take a step back. The growth hormone treatment might be anecdotal but look at how a recent article has appeared in La Capital entitled ‘They want Messi’s drug for their children’. The body of the article reads as follows: ‘Ever since the therapy given to Messi became public knowledge, for many people the growth hormone has been transformed into the “magic drug” that makes little children grow. Small stature is a huge concern for parents, especially when children are starting infant school and they are compared with others. Comparison is never healthy, because the normal rate of growth is extremely varied. In the majority of cases, small stature is due to genetic factors, malnutrition in the first two years of life, or a delay in development or growth (for which there is no specific therapy), but many parents are d
emanding from their paediatricians the same treatment given to Leo Messi.’

  ‘These are the negative consequences of media divulgence regarding a therapy associated with a famous footballer­, and the erroneous interpretation that parents and the population in general have made,’ protests the doctor. ‘None of this would have happened if everything had remained within the confines of doctor–patient–parent­ confidentiality. My duty is to insist that this particular course of medical action will do nothing for children who do not have the hormone deficiency, especially taking into account the costs against the lack of benefits. But it is imperative for those who do suffer from the deficiency, as Lionel does. That’s why he started receiving the treatment in 1998, when he measured 1.27m; and after continuing with the treatment in Barcelona, he now measures 1.69m. Without this cure he would not have grown to his genetically intended height.’

  Chapter 8

  International star in a small town

  Conversation with Mariano Bereznicki, La Capital journalist

  What does Leo Messi represent for Rosario?

  ‘The best player the town has ever produced. Argentine hope. He is a footballing icon. We are all waiting for the day when he becomes Diego’s successor.’

  How is he known around here?

  ‘In Rosario he isn’t “known”. He played junior football. He only played here until the tenth league. He didn’t become popular. Only those who came up against him on the pitch saw him. Some of us have heard about that time, when Leo was already promising in the short term, and that’s the nightmare for the Rosario clubs: they didn’t realise what they were losing. That’s Leo’s unfinished business, never having played here. He’s a product of Newell’s. Sooner or later we hope to enjoy seeing him on our pitches. At the moment we can only see his talents on television when he plays with Barça, or in Buenos Aires if we head over to the Monumental de Núñez stadium or wherever the national team are playing.’