An outstanding character obviously always comes with fascinating stories. Messi is no exception.
A SIMPLE LIFE
Messi’s life is rich, but he is not lavish. He chose a house in the most luxurious area of the city not to show off to anyone, but because it brought him the necessary peace. It’s just peaceful enough, fresh enough, just comfortable enough. If there was another more popular area that met all those needs, Messi wouldn’t mind at all.
Compared to many other millionaire superstars, Messi has a very simple life. He drives a Maserati, alongside an Audi provided by the club. He occasionally dine at Nueve Reinas, a luxury barbecue restaurant in Barcelona. But most of the time, he refuses luxurious habits. He is addicted to PlayStation and Xbox. He is a passionate fan of NBA basketball, a passion he inherited from his elder brother Ronaldinho. He listens to cumbia, a salsa-based music from South America. He went to school to pick up his son Thiago, and conveniently let Luis Suarez’s daughter, Delfina, hitchhike home.
He always maintains the habit of taking a nap, then having dinner. Dulce De Leche (a famous jam of South American origin) is his favorite dish. Occasionally, he and Antonella or a few friends participate in padel hoeing, a game modified from tennis.
In Barcelona, he often took his family to eat at Las Cuartetas, now renamed Mikuno, a cozy Argentinian-style place with walls decorated with jerseys. Antonella often orders hybrid dishes between Argentinian and Italian cuisine to be delivered to her home for lunch.
In the past, Messi often came to this restaurant with Pablo Zabaleta, a player who lived in Barcelona for 3 years while still playing for Espanyol. They are also regular customers at La Pampa restaurant, where the waiters always wear cowboy outfits. He sometimes goes to Casanova Beach Club, where the owner is also a family friend.
When he eats beef, he likes it medium-cooked. Raw food is becoming more and more appealing to Messi as he gradually becomes addicted to sushi. Sushi is the newest favorite, adding to a list of endless indulgences for pizza, hamburgers and pasta.
Yes, they are all very fat-causing dishes, of which the first two fast-food dishes are considered to be at the top of the doctor’s forbidden list. He is not a person who likes alcohol, but is addicted to Sprite soft drink. No matter what you eat, a glass of Spirit is a must.
MESSI IS NOT NORMAL, EVEN TRYING TO BE NORMAL
“He comes once a month,” said Manu, the manager at Casanova. “We always get calls from one of his friends to book a table. When that person calls, I know for sure Messi will come. They also did not ask for a private area or any special treatment. But we always try to arrange a table for him in the quietest area.
If there is a special guest at the party first, Messi doesn’t mind at all. He understands. We ourselves also tried our best to arrange so that Messi would not be disturbed. I went to each guest and told them Messi was here, but let him have a good meal. Take a photo or ask for an autograph, wait until he finishes the meal. Everyone happily waited, and Messi himself then happily took pictures with everyone.”
Messi is a recluse, with a closed lifestyle. But he was also afraid that he would be sad in the shell he created. So every now and then he takes his pet dog, Facha, out for a walk, smiling and greeting those who recognize him. He also cuts his hair once a month, not inviting the technician to his house but directly to the salon. Messi will never be able to live like a normal person, but he tries to be as normal as possible.
Reading Messi’s memoir written by Guillem Balague, we will be surprised to know that Messi has the mindset of a child. Ronaldinho is a senior, but is essentially no different from Messi’s adoptive father. The way Ronnie protects Messi in front of everyone and the public is truly a sign of fatherly love.
Not only Ronaldinho, Messi is also comfortable when surrounded by Deco and Sylvinho. Later, Eidur Gudjohnsen and goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto were added. The only reason Pinto was kept at Barca for so long is because he has a positive influence on Messi. Messi also has some peers, such as Cesc Fabregas. But most of his close friends are older.
That’s because Messi’s life is inherently lacking in love. At just 12 years old, he left his family to Barcelona. His whole family went to Spain one after another within the next year, but Messi’s father – Mr. Jorge – could not stand life in Europe and returned to Argentina. Although he is still Messi’s manager, taking his salary from a percentage of his son’s income, Mr. Jorge still lives in his hometown of Argentina. That lack of fatherly love probably makes Messi need the protection of older friends.
The father-son-cum-agent-player relationship between the two remained good until 2013, when the Spanish tax department accused Messi and his father of tax evasion of 4.1 million euros from 2007 to 2009. Jorge emphasized His son was completely clean and had to pay 5 million euros in additional taxes in 2013.
Both face up to 22 months in prison. The court does not believe that Messi is an adult and has children, but he is completely ignorant of financial matters and leaves everything to his father to handle. Only those who are close enough know that it is true. Besides football, Messi is not good in any field.