Messi's story should be taught in schools, claims ex-Barcelona teammate

Stuart Telford

• 17 Jun 2023 15:58 BST
• 3 min read

Lionel Messi's life story should be taught in Argentine primary schools according to his former Barcelona and national team colleague Gabriel Milito.

Messi is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time; a record seven-time Ballon d'Or winner who finally lifted the World Cup with Argentina in December.

Now 35, Messi is set to start another chapter, joining David Beckham's Inter Miami on the conclusion of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of June.

READ: How Inter Miami will line up with Messi and friends

Former centre-back Milito - whose elder brother Diego was a striker and another former Messi teammate - played with Messi at Barca between 2007 and 2011 and with the national team from two years earlier.

And he has given him the highest possible praise when asked on Argentine television about his former teammate.

'Messi subject in every primary school'

"He's an example of persistence," Milito told Como Te Va. "I believe there should be a 'Leo Messi' subject in primary school."

READ: Tevez reveals why Messi turned down Barcelona

"They should tell young boys his life story, about everything he had to go through and suffer to be a world champion with the national team.

"Time puts things in their place. Now we can say that his house is in order, he's an example for many Argentines."

Messi overcame panhypopituitarism as a youngster; a rare growth hormone deficiency which Barcelona funded the treatment for from when he was 13.

He went on to make 778 appearances with the Blaugrana, scoring 672 goals and contributing 303 assists - all of which are club records.

Inter Miami are expected to break their record for jersey sales with Messi onboard. Replicas of his No.30 jersey at PSG made €118.6m last year, while the highest-earning MLS team, LAFC, made €105.8m in total revenue.

Unlike in Paris, Messi's traditional No.10 jersey will also be available at the DRV PNK Stadium.