Gabriel Milito, a former Barcelona and Argentina teammate, believes that Lionel Messi‘s life story should be taught in Argentine primary schools. Messi is widely considered as the greatest footballer of all time, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner who finally lifted the World Cup with Argentina in December.
At 35 years old, Messi is embarking on a new chapter in his career, joining David Beckham’s Inter Miami after the conclusion of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of June.
Milito, a former centre-back who played alongside Messi at Barca between 2007 and 2011, as well as with the national team from two years earlier, gave his highest praise for his former teammate during an appearance on Argentine television.
When asked about Messi, Milito said, “He’s an example of persistence. I believe that there should be a ‘Leo Messi’ subject in primary schools.”
Milito added that young boys should be taught Messi’s life story, including the struggles he faced to become a world champion with the national team.
As a child, Messi overcame panhypopituitarism, a rare growth hormone deficiency, for which Barcelona funded his treatment starting at age 13. He went on to make 778 appearances for the Blaugrana, scoring 672 goals and providing 303 assists, all of which are club records.
Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami is expected to break the club’s record for jersey sales. Last year, replicas of his No. 30 jersey at PSG generated €118.6m, while the highest-earning MLS team, LAFC, had a total revenue of €105.8m.
Unlike at PSG, Messi’s traditional No. 10 jersey will be available at the DRV PNK Stadium. With Messi on board, he is an example for many Argentines, and his story serves as a reminder that time puts things in their proper places.