What makes Messi great: the scientific explanation of the football phenomenon

First, it is his complexion. At just 1m 70cm, what seems to be Messi's Achilles' heel is actually his strong point: it gives him a huge advantage in terms of pace. When Messi was 11 years old, he was diagnosed with a disorder in the production of growth hormone. He would have had to give up his dream of becoming a football player, if not for injections of expensive hormones. Barcelona, which gave Messi the place, sponsored his treatment, which helped the Argentine reach a perfectly acceptable height.

Of course, this is not 1 m 85 cm of Messi's now former main rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, but he does not need them. The short stature and stocky build give the Arentinian a lower center of gravity, the point of balance between the weight of the upper and lower body, making him more stable. The lower the center of gravity, the easier it is for the player to stay on their feet and regain balance, for example when they are pushed. This is the same law that, for example, architects design buildings in such a way that the weight at the base is greater.

The ability to stay on his feet in situations where taller players inevitably fall, such as when tackled by larger and stronger opponents, gives Messi and agility - the ability to control the movements of his body. Combined, this allows him to be so perfect on the field and easily go through defenders, deceiving them with false movements.

Messi is also known to be a great sprinter. In his prime, he was considered one of the 15 fastest football players in history. The step size of short players is naturally smaller than that of tall players, but they benefit from the speed of movement. Here's how Athletes' Performance team member Craig Friedman explains it: “First, you have to be explosive and powerful. You then need to have powerful ankles, hips, and torso to be able to transfer that power effectively. And finally, you have to send energy in the right direction, here you need a technique.

While Ronaldo, who is even faster than Messi, has to slow down and stomp for his size to avoid losing the ball, a smaller player does not need to resort to this. This means that he can control the ball at close to maximum speed. In addition, players with shorter strides and a lower center of gravity are able to change speed faster, slowing down and accelerating, and these are also important tools that Messi uses on the pitch.

In terms of nutrition, Messi is known to follow a Mediterranean diet. The traditional Argentinean diet is rich in meat. The national dishes here are grilled steaks, ribs and chorizo, and Messi's favorite dish is fried chicken with vegetables (the recipe includes chicken thighs, leeks, onions, carrots, potatoes and a seasoning of garlic, olive oil, salt and fresh thyme). For some time now, however, the football player has had to refrain from eating too much meat, as meat is not just protein: a meat-based diet can lead to excess cholesterol and fat and nutritional deficiencies.

In his younger years, Messi sometimes vomited before matches. Fans feared that this was a sign of great stress, but a few years ago, the football player admitted that this was due to the wrong diet: “I ate poorly for many years: chocolate, sodas and all that.” It is said that in his younger years, Messi was so fond of carbonated drinks that the then manager of Barcelona, Pep Guardiola, ordered the removal of soda machines from the training grounds so as not to tempt the best player.

Since 2014, the football player has been eating according to the recommendations of the Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser, who identified five vital elements for him: water, olive oil, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. Poser also ordered Messi to exclude carbonated drinks, alcohol, flour, red meat from his diet. Poser makes a special emphasis on sugar: “This is the worst thing for muscles. The further he stays away from sugar, the better.”

Instead of Coca-Cola, Messi now drinks mate, a popular high-caffeinated drink in South America that is also loved by other famous football players, including Uruguayan Luis Suarez and Frenchman Antoine Griezmann. It is believed that mate improves concentration, improves mood, promotes healthy sleep. It also contains polyphenols and vitamins B and C, which boost metabolism and support the immune system.

In addition, Poser advised Messi to take Bach drops, a well-known remedy among fans of naturopathy to combat stress and anxiety. Bach drops are believed to restore balance between mind and body by acting on the limbic system, the area of the brain responsible for emotions, memories and arousal.