The savior behind Messi reveals details of counterattack for the first time

Who would have thought that Messi, the world's most powerful football player, was once almost cut off from football because of his height? Recently, Diego Schwarzstein, the pediatrician who cured Messi, fully disclosed for the first time the past event that changed the history of football. The persistence of 1,400 injections hides all the codes of genius' counterattack.

In 1997, 10-year-old Messi was rushed to Schwarzstein by Newell's Old Boys Club. "They said there were thousands of kids on the team, but this one was definitely the best," the doctor recalled. But the little Messi in front of him is only 125 centimeters tall, and even the children's growth chart "can't fit", which is obviously different from ordinary people.

After four months of detailed examination, a cruel conclusion came out: Messi suffered from a rare growth hormone deficiency, with an incidence rate of only 1/20,000 in children. What’s even more troublesome is that Messi’s family is from an ordinary family and cannot afford follow-up treatment.

The treatment plan is extremely harsh: daily injections of growth hormone into the legs or arms, which cost up to $1,300 per month and require long-term persistence. "Other children grow taller to look good or attract girls, but Messi only said that he wanted to play football at the highest level." Schwarzstein still remembers that this silent little boy never complained about the pain of the needle, and cooperated with the treatment on time every day, with his eyes full of obsession with football.

In order to cheer up Messi, the doctor once made a promise: "Don't worry about your height, you will be taller than Maradona." Looking back now, this prediction not only came true - Messi's 170cm height is a full 4cm taller than the 165cm Maradona. The doctor even added: "Now I am sure that he is better than Maradona."

The Argentine economic crisis of 2000-2001 almost interrupted treatment. Messi's father Jorge's insurance completely failed and treatment was unsustainable. At a critical moment, Schwarzstein used his contacts in Barcelona to contact the Barcelona club, and Barcelona finally agreed to bear part of the cost. But the doctor emphasized: "When leaving Argentina, 70% of the treatment had been completed, and Messi's persistence was the core."

After four years and 1,400 injections, Messi finally got rid of the shackles of height. Faced with the question of "whether the treatment is a stimulant," Schwarzstein angrily said: "Anyone who says this is an idiot! The growth hormone only gives him a chance to compete fairly and has no effect on improving performance. Without these injections, he would be 10-15 centimeters shorter and would never reach his current height."

Schwartzstein still maintains a good relationship with Messi's father. The last time he met Messi was in 2014. From a skinny teenager at Newell's Old Boys to an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, Messi's legend has never been a solo act of talent, but a symphony of 1,400 persistence and good intentions.

Which do you think is more important in Messi's counterattack, talent, perseverance or opportunity?