Very few players in soccer history have been debated quite like Lionel Messi. To many fans around the world, his “greatest player of all time” status has never come into question. But to others, he’s been held to literally impossible standards since the start of his legendary career. The longer Messi stayed at the top of his game, the more criticism he received. Every goal was scrutinized and every performance was an excuse for new rumours to be spread. Now, it can be difficult to tell the difference between myth and reality. Let’s break down the truth vs. lie of one of the most iconic soccer players in the game!

1.    Lionel Messi Only Succeeded with FC Barcelona

If you’ve heard any of the lies told about Messi throughout his career, this is by far the most debated of them all. The claim that Messi only succeeded because of the club is highly contradicted now when you look at all of the success he’s had since then. The truth is, even though Barcelona helped shape the player Messi grew into, Messi helped FC Barcelona achieve glory and fame in a lot of ways. Despite Lionel Messi spending the majority of his career at the club, when he eventually left he went onto win league titles with Paris Saint-Germain, international glory with Argentina, and took Inter Miami (and the MLS as a whole) to a new level of fame. His ability to adapt no matter which team he plays for is proof that this statement is 100% false!

2.    Lionel Messi Struggles on an International Stage

Another completely false narrative that was debunked after being told for years is that Lionel Messi can’t perform on the international stage. Any fan of Lionel Messi would know that this was his go-to criticism that followed him everywhere. But as we all know today, this was a myth that did not age well at all. At the time, it started because Messi hadn’t won a major international trophy yet. But when he moved to Argentina, he led his team to victory in the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Not only has Lionel Messi proved the haters wrong, but he also solidified his status as one of the most accomplished international players in history!

3.    Lionel Messi Could Never Be a Leader

Unfortunately, Messi’s quiet personality has led to some claims being made that will probably follow him for the rest of his career. To this day, it’s often debated that Lionel Messi can’t be a good leader because of his quiet demeanor. But just because Messi isn’t the type to yell at teammates or take over in interviews, his leadership skills show up in other ways. Despite being quiet, Messi leads by example by making decisions under pressure, having a strong work ethic, and setting the standard for strong performance. Not only has Messi had unimaginable success as a captain, but his teammates have so much respect for who he is as a leader and appreciate his calm and collected attitude!

4.    Lionel Messi Used Steroids or Artificial Enhancement

This is one of the rumours that many famous players hear circulating at some point in their careers. But for Lionel Messi, this can be debunked from a quick Google search. As a child, Lionel Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, a condition that impacts physical development. The treatment he received for it wasn’t steroids or anything performance enhancing, it was medically prescribed hormone therapy designed to help his body grow naturally. The steroid narrative was started by people who claim the treatment he received made him stronger and faster than other kids. But the reality is the treatment only helped him grow at the same natural rate as other kids his age!

5.    Lionel Messi Is Past His Prime

Finally, one of the most talked about rumours currently is surrounding Messi’s performance. People say Messi is past his prime, but the truth is he’s just evolving! His performance and style of play shouldn’t look the same now as it did when he was in his early 20s. Messi might not display the same level of speed and power as he used to, but he’s still making an impact on the sport. If anything, his strategy and vision has only improved with age, and he’s more mindful with every move he makes on the field now!