Lionel Messi is not only one of the biggest stars in sports, but also one of the most famous people in the world. He has always maintained a reserved public persona and is rarely in the headlines for his behavior off the field, but now a former Barcelona teammate has shared insights into how he acts in the locker room.
“I’ve seen him in the locker room insulting himself and pulling at his shirt after missing a penalty. Saying, ‘What have I done, what have I done?’” revealed Marc Bartra about Messi during a recent interview with Viajando con Chester. However, the Argentine star was able to bounce back quickly: “Then he’d come out in the second half and be the best, he’d dominate the pitch.”
Bartra’s words carry weight when it comes to Messi, as the two played together for several years at Barcelona. The defender made his official debut with the team in 2010, when Leo was already the squad’s leading star, and remained there until his move to Borussia Dortmund in 2016.
Reflecting on what he witnessed from Messi during those years, Marc explained: “That’s what made him the best. Beyond technique, it’s the ability to get back up. Knowing what to do with what happens to you, what solution you bring to what you face. Not playing the victim, but taking it with responsibility. For that, you need to be strong.”
Marc Bartra playing for FC Barcelona on September 20, 2015.
On a similar note, the current Real Betis player spoke about the importance of mental strength in achieving consistent performance. “It’s something people didn’t talk about when I started. Mental health. For me, it’s the most important thing. I always say ‘give me health’ and the rest will come,” he explained. “That mindset is what you see in players with great talent. For example, Leo Messi.”
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What has Messi said about his mental health?
Marc Bartra’s comments bring back what Lionel Messi himself said about his mental health in a June 2024 interview with Infobae. He was asked whether he had ever seen a psychologist, and he didn’t hesitate to reveal: “I went a long time ago, when I was in Barcelona.”
The Argentine forward explained why he chose that path. “I went, I had never tried it, I was very reluctant to all of that. I didn’t like it. I’m the kind of person who keeps everything inside, both the good and the bad,” he said. “The truth is, when I went, it did me a lot of good, I really liked it, it helped me a lot. But then I stopped and never went again.”
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