Barcelona, Spain – April 2004
There was a silence that followed greatness.
Not peace — not rest — but the quiet before the next storm.
After Messi's heroics in Madrid, the world changed.
He was no longer a whisper, or a surprise off the bench.
He was a threat.
And in football, threats get targeted.
The Shift
The first few days were all praise.
He was interviewed by Marca, Sport, and El Mundo Deportivo — though he only answered in soft-spoken, careful Spanish.
He posed once for a magazine — uncomfortable, stiff in the photo.
But then came the other side.
At training, older players who once ignored him now challenged every touch.
Some tackles were late. Some weren't necessary.
"He needs to get used to it," grunted one defender. "This isn't street football anymore."
Ronaldinho's Warning
After one rough session, Messi sat on the grass, rubbing his shin where a boot had caught him.
Ronaldinho walked over, tossed him a cold water bottle.
"They're going to test you now," he said. "Every week."
Messi looked up. "Why?"
"Because now… you're not just playing well. You're taking their spotlight."
The Next Match – Away at Athletic Bilbao
It was pouring rain. The San Mamés crowd was loud and hungry.
From the first minute, Messi was hunted.
The first tackle came in the 3rd minute — a crunching challenge that sent him spinning.
The second came soon after, cleats up, across the ankle.
No card. Just a shrug from the ref.
Messi didn't retaliate.He got up, every time.
Minute 25 – The Blow
He picked up the ball in midfield and turned sharply.
A defender lunged from behind.
The boot caught Messi's calf, sweeping both legs from under him.
He screamed before he hit the ground.
The stadium went quiet — briefly.
Trainers rushed on.
Rijkaard stood, heart racing.
Messi clutched his leg.
But after two minutes, he rose.
He limped for a moment.
Then waved the trainers off.
He would not be carried off the field.
Not now.Not ever.
Second Half – The Response
The pain in his leg throbbed with every step.
But the fire inside him burned hotter.
In the 64th minute, he received a pass on the wing.
Three defenders closed in.
Messi exploded.
First touch: drag.Second: nutmeg.Third: burst of pace.
He broke free, cut inside, and curled a shot toward the far post.
The keeper barely saw it.
GOAL.
He didn't celebrate much — just lifted a hand, calm, focused.
But his message was clear:
You can kick me. But you can't stop me.
Post-Match Interview
A reporter asked, "Are you worried about the fouls?"
Messi replied, "If they're fouling me, it means I'm doing something right."
The Bruise
That night, his leg was swollen. The bruise ran from mid-calf to ankle, dark as ink.
He iced it alone in his room at La Masia.
He didn't complain.
But when he opened his notebook, his pen moved slower.
Anto,It hurts. They kicked me hard today. Three or four times. My calf is purple.But I stayed on. I scored. I showed them I don't break easy.Ronnie says it will get worse before it gets better.But I'd rather get kicked chasing the ball… than be safe and silent.—Leo
The Doubters Speak
The next week, some Spanish pundits called him "too small."
Others said he wouldn't survive a full season.
"Talented, yes," one said on live TV. "But fragile. He'll burn out by 18."
Another warned, "Let's not crown him yet. We've seen talents disappear before."
The headlines changed tone.
"Can Messi Handle a Full Season?""Barcelona Must Protect Their Golden Boy."
Behind the Headlines
But inside the club, things were different.
Rijkaard called a meeting with the medical and training staff.
"I want him on a personalized program," he said. "Less gym, more ball control. We build him slow. No burnout."
And with that, Messi began training separately three times a week — alone, with one coach, working on balance, core strength, and injury prevention.
He didn't complain.
He simply asked, "Can I still train with Ronnie afterward?"
The answer was always yes.
At La Masia
His friends still treated him the same.
Cesc and Gerard teased him when his name came on TV.
They played FIFA at night — Messi always chose Barcelona, but he never made himself take the free-kicks.
"I'll earn that," he smiled.
A Call from Home
One afternoon, he received a video message from Antonela.
She sat by the river in Rosario, the same place they used to play as kids.
"We saw your match. You limped. But you didn't stop.""You looked like you were in pain, but you smiled after the goal.""Don't ever lose that smile, Leo. The world can hit hard — but you hit back harder."—A.
He watched it three times that night.
Then wrote:
Anto,I needed that. More than you know.The world's louder now. Fans, critics, cameras… they all want something.But your voice cuts through it all.Like always.—Leo
The Lesson
By the end of April, Messi had made ten senior appearances.
He had four goals, three assists, and countless moments of magic.
But more importantly:
He had been fouled 28 times.
And still stood.
Still ran.
Still smiled.