"I was very reluctant at first" - Lionel Messi claims going to psychologist helped him at Barcelona
Lionel Messi has claimed that he saw a psychologist for a while during his time at Barcelona. The 2022 World Cup winner stated that although he was initially a little reluctant to seek professional help, it eventually helped him.
The Argentine may be one of the best players to have ever graced the sport but he also underwent his fair share of tumultuous moments. Barca fans can never forget the otherwise unfathomable 6-5 aggregate comeback win against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League in 2017. Similarly, they've also seen enough heartbreaks.
Messi's name is synonymous with most of what the club achieved during his time at Camp Nou. However, the Inter Miami talisman was also put under the microscope each time the Catalan giants failed to deliver.
The most recent occasions included losing to Roma in the Champions League on away goals in 2018. The 4-0 mauling at the hands of Liverpool the following year despite having an unassailable 3-0 first-leg lead also stands out.
While Messi didn't directly comment on why he sought professional help, he revealed that speaking to a psychologist helped him.
"I did for a while (to a psychologist) when I was in Barcelona, a long time ago. I was very reluctant at first. I'm someone who keeps everything bottled up. But the truth is, when I went, it did me a lot of good, I really liked it, and it helped me," Messi said (via infobae).
While being the best player in the world has its perks, it also comes with a lot of responsibility and burden.
Messi had earlier stated that his wife wanted him to seek professional help to alleviate stress
During an interview in 2020, the Argentine revealed that his wife Antonella Roccuzzo had asked him several times to seek professional help to feel at ease during difficult times.
"I should have gone but I never went. I find it really hard to take that step even though I know it’s something that I need. They have insisted many times that it’s what I need. I’m someone who keeps everything in and does not share things. I know I need it. I know it would be good for me but I have not done it," Messi said (via Mail Online):
The Inter Miami superstar married his childhood sweetheart Antonella in 2007. They have three sons - Thiago, Matteo, and Ciro.