Football star Lionel Messi, who currently plays for Miami in the United States, revealed that he underwent psychological treatment during his time with his former team Barcelona, despite initially being hesitant to seek psychological assistance at that time.
While Messi experienced some of the best periods in his football career at Camp Nou, winning numerous collective and individual titles, those times were not devoid of turbulent and challenging moments.
In an interview with “Infobae”, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner stated that his wife, Antonella, pleaded with him to see a psychologist, but he initially refused before accepting her proposal in 2020.
Messi admitted to being very hesitant at first, explaining that he is someone who keeps everything inside and deals with both good and bad things in the same manner.
He acknowledged that his visit to the psychologist was positive, stating that he benefited greatly from it, but he later stopped going and never returned.
Messi also mentioned that he began to open up more afterwards and started sharing what was happening to him with his friends, family, and wife, noting that he underwent significant changes as he matured.
Regarding his participation in the 2026 World Cup, Messi, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022 in Qatar, confirmed that he has not yet decided whether he will play in the tournament, indicating that his decision depends on his mental and physical condition, and that he has plenty of time before the tournament begins.
Currently, Messi is preparing with the Argentina national team for the Copa America tournament hosted by the United States, which will take place from June 21st to July 15th of the current year.
