Look! Isn't this Lionel Messi, the soccer legend known as "The King"? (Photo: Tat Chee Images/Associated Press)
Lionel Messi has dominated the world of soccer for nearly 20 years with his exceptional skills. This year, he made up for his only regret in his career by leading Argentina to win the World Cup after a 36-year absence. The debate about whether he is the best player of all time seems to have been settled. Messi, who is only 169 centimeters tall, has created countless "miracles" on the green field, and even the foreign media have used a scientific perspective to explore how he can easily get rid of defenders taller than himself and how he maintains optimal physical condition through diet.
At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, which almost ended his soccer career. Fortunately, La Liga giants Barcelona came to his aid and paid for his expensive medical treatment, which eventually allowed him to grow to nearly 170 centimeters. Known as "The Little Flea", Messi's low center of gravity adds to his balance and stability when he runs, even though he is not very tall.
Physicists point out that a person with a low center of gravity is able to quickly get back into position after moving his body, as if he were being pushed and then quickly get on his feet. This is very beneficial for him to cross the field and get away from more physical defenders. He can control his body better than others when he runs, quickly cutting into breaks and switching directions without falling over.
Sports performance expert Craig Friedman explains, "First you have to be explosive and powerful, then the ankles, hips and torso have to be stable enough to effectively transfer power to the ground, and then finally incorporate technique."
At his peak, Messi could run with the ball on the field at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour (about 32 kilometers per hour), making him one of the top 15 fastest soccer players of all time.
Messi also follows a "Mediterranean diet" to maintain optimal physical condition. In the past, he often vomited during matches and was once suspected of not being able to handle the pressure, but he clarified in a 2018 interview that it was caused by a poor diet: "I didn't control my diet properly for many years, I ate chocolate, carbonated drinks, everything."
However, since 2014, Messi has worked with Italian nutritionist Giuliano Poser to incorporate five nutrients into his diet - water, olive oil, whole grains, fruits and vegetables with nuts. He avoids eating too much meat and replaces beverages with maté tea to keep his muscles strong while keeping his weight in check by consuming a high protein, low carb diet.
