“80% of Messi’s growth was achieved here, in Argentina”

“Football owes a debt to Leo,” he said diego schwarzsteinnative of Rosario, as Messi. And he says this because he believes, not because he is a countryman or because his paths crossed when the Albiceleste captain was just 10 years old with growing problems.

Away from the spotlight that now surrounds Leo Messi, one of the best footballers in history -besides his game, it is difficult to match his record with one of the best versions of FC Barcelona on record-, the endocrinologist knows that these are the obstacles on the way on the Olympus of football, where he will reach a legendary place this Sunday.

‘La Pulga’, leader of the Argentine soccer team and star of the French Paris Saint Germain, since he was 17 years in the Catalan team, measures 1.70 meters, but was judged to measure between 10 and 15 centimeters lower.

“Leo has such quality in football that I think he could have become a professional even with the size of 1.50, because he is really a crack,” said the doctor who diagnosed him with growth deficiency hormone in 1997 when he was a member of the youth ranks in the EFE. Newell’s Old Boys.

According to Schwarzstein, a boy came to his consultation “with the reference that he was the best in the lower divisions, the promise of the club”, but that he was “too small” and had to try to overcome “that limitation” . .

“We are not giving the boys an advantage, but rather overcoming a disadvantage,” he commented, referring to the diagnosis of the case that, like other young people with similar problems, he had to face “very expensive” treatment , which can average between 1,000 and 1,200 euros per month, a cost that is “out of reach of 99% of Argentine families.”

And, although the intervention of FC Barcelona was very important to complete his treatment and his football training, this doctor remembers that “80% did it here in Argentina”. However, he complained that his former team “were not very generous” and that River Plate, when they had the chance to sign him, asked him to come “with a free pass” to avoid “conflict” at Newell’s Old Boys, it’s something he “disapproved of”.

First he felt love for her and now admiration

Schwarzstein admitted that, although his bond with Messi was “not friendship”, it was “love”, due to the “good doctor-patient relationship” that developed between them and now, he clarified, “admiration” for to the magic that unfolds. on the pitches.

“Once he looked up to me (like the doctor who helped him) and now I look up to him and say: ‘This guy is the best soccer player in the world and he’s about to win the World Cup,’ ” pride he..

Although he makes it clear that, if not him, “someone else will do it”, he expresses the same sentiment when asked if this early evaluation marked Messi’s professional career. “It was my turn and I thank fate for putting me in the right place with the right person and I was lucky enough to meet and help grow who ended up becoming the best footballer in the world,” he asserted.

Repeated comparisons between Diego Armando Maradona and Leo Messi cannot be established because they are “two monsters in two different eras”, this endocrinologist who loves football and is linked to other players and coaches from Rosario stated that both gave “tremendous joy” and dreams. that on Sunday “another” came.

In his opinion, the Albiceleste led by Lionel Scaloni “succeeded in sending a commonwealth from the inside out” and “a desire to do good” was able to “unite” the Argentines, who live “always fighting for a thing”.

A much needed pleasure

“We need satisfaction”, added the doctor from Rosario, repeating the “sensation of union, of harmony” shown by the Argentina team that, this Sunday and against France, will fight in their sixth World Cup final to reach their third star, after 1978 and 1986.

And he considers that “many people, even not Argentines, want this team to win on Sunday for Leo, it is like the end of his career”, because he believes that “he is playing football for is he a god”.

Schwarzstein and his wife were “a little nervous” on Sunday, but he said he had “confidence in the players” and, above all, he wanted “the star of the game” to be his admirer Leo, the best football player around the world. world he helped develop.