Without struggle, there is no success. Even today, all the biggest athletes, be it Lionel Messi or Michael Jordan, have had a hard journey in their early lives. Becoming an athlete is just not easy. One has to stay 100% dedicated if one wants to make it to the top. The road to becoming a professional soccer player is also a tough row to hoe.
However, staying committed isn’t the only factor when it comes to becoming a professional soccer player. There are other physical factors that make it easy for pro soccer players to compete at the highest level.
Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency at the age of 11. His parents couldn’t afford the treatment of $900. He kept on fighting and today he is the world's greatest football player. A journey of perseverance, defiance and extraordinary resilience.#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/E7kMuyjB58
— Fidato (@tequieremos) December 18, 2022
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But a few of the biggest superstars, like Lionel Messi, have proved everyone wrong about the idea that one doesn’t need to be physically superlative. The Argentine had a growth hormone deficiency and was rejected due to his physicality. Yet today, he is a pinnacle in the world of soccer.
And Messi isn’t the only one who had to struggle with his height; in fact, there are a number of players like him. And on that list is his former Barcelona teammate Antoine Griezmann.
Griezmann’s early life, just like Lionel Messi
Antoine Griezmann is one of the best strikers in soccer. Le Petit Prince maybe just 1.76, yet his skill and finishing quality are exceptional. Today, his height might be considered decent, but in his early days, the Frenchman struggled a lot. He was rejected by many clubs just because of his height. And the 2018 World Cup winner once told how he overcame all the struggles due to his height.
“Well, that helps me mentally in the difficult moments in matches and in my career. And in the end, I have fought and worked hard since I was a small kid, to try to become a professional player. And now, all the hard moments of my childhood help me out on the football pitch,” said Griezmann during an interview with Unisport.
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The Atlético Madrid man had a chucklesome tête-à-tête with the soccer boot company back in 2019. “Work, perseverance, and enjoying football. Spend time with friends on the street or later on the football pitch. I’m a player that likes having a fun time out on the pitch, and in the end, thanks to that, it allows me to be on the top of the game,” he added.
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Griezmann has enjoyed a stellar career so far. The 31-year-old was brilliant for France during the World Cup and created the most chances in the tournament. It was, however, unfortunate for him, who endured a loss against his fellow mate, Lionel Messi in the recently concluded world Cup.
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Even after such difficulties, both of these players have shut their critics’ mouths and made it to the top.
WATCH THIS STORY: Despite being only 5% as rich as Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi once spent more money on a car than MJ ever earned in a single active NBA season