Even if you are not knowledgeable about football, you have heard the name Lionel Messi. The Argentinian born in 1987 is considered the best striker in the world at the moment and one of the greatest players of all time. He currently holds the record of winning the Golden Ball 7 times and winning the European Golden Shoe 6 times.

Few people know that today’s great success of the Argentine striker has a huge contribution from his grandmother Celia Oliveira Cuccittini. The excellent upbringing of his grandmother was the turning point that helped Messi come to football.

Always trust, accompany and create the best conditions for your child to develop his talent

Lionel Messi was born in the city of Rosario, General Las Heras subdivision, Argentina. Where Messi was born, there are two football clubs playing: Newell’s Old Boys and Rosario Central. People here are passionate football fans and are divided into cheering for the two clubs on all fronts. Unlike his neighbors, Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge, is not an avid football enthusiast.

Messi’s love and destiny for football was passed down from his maternal family, Mrs. Celia’s Biancucchi family. It is known that his two brothers Rodrigo and Matías and their cousins ​​Maximiliano and Emanuel Biancucchi (who later became professional players) all loved and played football since childhood. Messi also played with his brothers and was instilled with a love of football. However, the person who truly discovered his talent was his grandmother Celia.

When Messi was 4 years old, Mrs. Celia saw her grandson’s football star qualities, even though Messi was still a stunted boy at that time. Among everyone in the family, Mrs. Celia Oliveira Cuccittini was also the only one at that time who wanted to see Messi become a football player.

Mrs. Celia herself took her grandson to his first football practice at the local children’s football club Grandoli. While there, Celia Oliveira Cuccittini both teased and encouraged her nephew by saying:  “Lionel, one day, you will be the best football player in the world!”.

Realizing her potential, Mrs. Celia gave her full support. It was she who convinced Messi’s parents to buy him his first pair of soccer shoes. Later, she also convinced coach Rosario to let Lionel join the team.

One day, when the team was short on players, Mrs. Celia suggested to the coach that her 6-year-old nephew Lionel was very good at soccer. Then, when they saw Lionel performing dribbles on the field, everyone was surprised and amazed.

During Lionel Messi’s childhood years, his grandmother always accompanied him, playing and practicing with him. Mrs. Celia constantly cheered and encouraged Messi to believe in his talent and develop that talent further.

Unfortunately, Lionel Messi’s grandmother passed away in 1998, when he was only 11 years old. Later, every time he scored a goal, the Argentine superstar always pointed to the sky to remember her.

It can be said that, without his grandmother’s early years of upbringing, it would be difficult to have the superstar Lionel Messi today. Sensitively discovering her child’s talent, always trusting, accompanying, and creating the best conditions for her child to develop her talent – those are the wonderful things in Mrs. Celia’s way of educating that every parent has. can refer.