Messi supports a number of charities through his Leo Messi Foundation. He also works for people suffering from Fragile X Syndrome (a disease related to autism). He is also a a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. When Lionel Messi was just nine years old, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Doctors predicted he would grow no taller than 4 feet, 7 inches. To counteract the deficiency, Messi was injected with HGH into his legs every night as a kid. Having suffered a hormonal problem himself, Messi is keen to help other children with genetic conditions and has been committed to raising funds for Fragile X Syndrome research in Barcelona. He once commented:
“I know how important it is to have a helping hand. In my childhood I had difficult times because of hormonal problems. If I hadn’t had support, I wouldn’t have been able to fulfil my dreams.”
http://www.fundacionleomessi.org/Messi is autistic. He was diagnosed at 8 years old, still in Argentina, with Asperger's Syndrome, known as a mild form of autism. Although the diagnosis of athlete has been little publicized and questioned, as a way to protect him, the fact is that their behavior on and off the field are revealing.
Having Asperger's is not no demerits [ed: I believe that this is actually saying "is not a demerit. Stupid Google Translate]. People [who have Asperger's] are generally male, having difficulties in socialization, interests and repetitive motor acts very strange. Popularly, the syndrome is known as a factory geniuses. It is the case of Messi.
It is possible to identify, by experience, such as autism reveals itself in his behavior on the field - the teamwork, the dribbling, the movement, the chute [maybe a mistranslation, intended to be "shot"]." Autistics are always looking to adopt a pattern and repeat it thoroughly," says Nilton Vitulli , father of an Asperger's syndrome [child] and an active member of the NGO Autism and Reality and social networking Citizen Health, which includes parents and family members of "aspergianos." [Spanish and/or Portuguese for "aspie']
"Messi always makes the same movements: almost always falls on the right, dribbles the same way and often makes that goal Cavadinha [a method of penalty kicks used by Messi], typical of him," says Vitulli , who played football and almost became a professional. He explains that, thanks to the phenomenal memory that autistics have, Messi should probably know all the moves that can occur, for example, the time to complete a goal. "It's as if he foresaw the movements of the goalkeeper. He just repeats a familiar pattern. When he enters the area, you know that [he] will make [score, probably] the goal. And celebrating with that smile typical autistic, who fulfilled his mission and is relieved."
The quality of the kick, Messi extraordinary, and the ability to keep the ball stuck in the foot, even at high speed, are probably second [nature, and] also [are] repeating patterns, combined [with], of course the great skill of the player. It compares the behavior of Messi after a famous Hawaiian surfer Clay Marzo , also diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. "He is an extraordinary surfer. And you can see autistic features when it is a wave. So, like Messi, he is perfect, as if he knew exactly the behavior of the wave and just repeat a pattern." But autistic, according Vitulli, are not creative, just repeat what they do." "Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar [two other great soccer players currently playing] create more. But err more," he says.
Autism may be able to impressive achievements - and the film Rain Man, made in 1988, illustrates this. Today it is known, for example, that physicists Einstein and Newton had some form of autism, as well as Bill Gates.
Also out of bounds, his behavior is revealing. Who has not noticed the difficulty of communicating the news, reported in interviews and even in commercial perpetrated by him? Or unsociable behavior in relation to social events? For Giselle Zambiazzi, president of AMA Brusque, (Parents , Friends and Professionals Autistic Brusque and Region , Santa Catarina), and mother of a 10 year old boy diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, was a revelation to observe certain attitudes Messi.
"Starting with the interviews: it is visible how that environment bothers [him]. That air "lost" crazy to flee . The Scratchy [scratching] in the head, the hands, the look that never looks in fact. An autistic have difficulty dealing with this barrage of information from the outside world,"says Giselle. According to her, it is possible to realize the high degree of concentration of Messi: "He knows exactly what he wants and has the same objectivity that I see in my son."
Giselle noted some moves of Argentine and also had no doubts : "Look who 'who not look' that I see is the same in all. In one move, he was taking the ball to be face to face with an opponent. It was time to face him. He lifted his head , but his eyes averted. That is, no communication. He just kept his stroke in his goal, and was there to score. No more."
According to Giselle, Messi has recognized talent into something simple which is great for everyone and do not see much point in fame, money, women, partying . "Just do what one knows and does well. The rest would be the consequence. Another aspect that is very similar to my son."
Another characteristic of autism, she said, is becoming extremely frustrated when they lose, they are very demanding." Everything has to go just as they set out to do, otherwise it is in crisis right. And usually dominate a specific subject. That is, if Messi is autistic and decided to play football, the possibility of being the best in the world would be really great," she says.
The idea of one of the biggest celebrities in the world to be an autistic [is] not surprising, but enchants [is intriguing, I guess]. Messi will never be a celebrity conventional [conventional celebrity]. According to Giselle, he will always be just a professional who performs his job as best they can - but aloof to clubbing, interviews and events. "They need and want your condition is met. Will never get used to the harassment. Always have a few friends. And hardly know what to do before a battalion of photographers and screaming fans around. Anyway, surely his contribution to the world will be unforgettable," she says.
Lionel Messi as a five year old soccer player:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVV_ZxkA5w8#t=34A Sky Sports interview with Messi from 2012:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INdnOf_JSLU
