Messi Autism Speculation / Messi Is Autistic

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Part of a series on Lionel Messi. [View Related Entries]

About

Messi Autism Speculation, also known as Messi Is Autistic, refers to a viral discussion as to whether or not pro Argentine footballer Lionel Messi is autistic or on the autism spectrum. Many internet users have cited claims that Messi was diagnosed with Asperger's as a child, however, these claims are unconfirmed. Amid the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and after team Argentina's victory, discourse surfaced en masse on Twitter and TikTok about Messi's supposed autism. Going into 2022, compilations of Messi purportedly showing his autism in games and elsewhere notably surfaced online. Many users made fun of the Messi autism compilations on Twitter and elsewhere. The original rumor surfaced in Brazilian media in 2013.

Origin

On June 30th, 2013, the Brazilian website Diariodo Centro Domundo published an article^[1] titled, "Como o autismo ajudou Messi a se tornar o melhor do mundo," which translates from Portugese to English as, "How autism helped Messi become the best in the world." The article claimed that Messi was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when he was 8 years old and that the diagnosis wasn't publicized as a way to protect him. However, the article also claimed that Messi's autism was purportedly evident on the field and in his style of play.

In August 2013, the article was then shared on Twitter^[2]^[3] in non-viral tweets from Brazilian Twitter users. However, on September 8th, 2013, the speculation was amplified by Romário (a Brazilian politician and former professional football player for Team Brazil and FC Barcelona) who sent a tweet^[4] that translated in English to, "Did you know that Messi has Asperger Syndrome? It's a mild form of autism, which gave him the gift of focus and concentration above all else." Romário's tweet received over 245 likes in nine years (shown below). Additionally, he followed the tweet up with another post^[5] that compared Messi to Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein due to his supposed Asperger's.

Spread

On September 9th, 2013, the Diariodo Centro Domundo article^[1] was shared to the /r/aspergers^[6] subreddit by Redditor MAINEiac4434 where it earned 45 upvotes and eight comments in nine years. Also on September 9th, 2013, the Brazilian news outlet Marca posted an article^[7] about Romário's string of tweets.

The speculation surrounding Messi's autism predominantly trended after 2018 due to a YouTube video uploaded by the channel Fr4nce Football sometime in 2018. The original video, along with the channel, has since been deleted, however, on July 15th, 2018, the YouTube^[8] channel highlights football reposted the video titled, "Evidences that Lionel Messi is autistic," gaining roughly 221,100 views and 3,000 likes in four years (shown below). The video is a compilation of Messi purportedly showing his autism.

On August 16th, 2019, the YouTube^[9] channel Soccer Stories – Oh My Goal posted a video titled, "Does Lionel Messi have high-functioning autism?" gaining roughly 901,100 views and 14,000 likes in three years (shown below).

On November 20th, 2020, Twitter^[10] user ffsssholebas tweeted YouTube channel highlights football's Messi autism compilation video. The tweet and its video were later referenced on April 10th, 2021, by Twitter^[11] user KieranCFC88 who stated, "no way someone made a messi autism comp," and earned over 770 likes in one year. A few days later, on April 19th, 2021, Twitter^[12] user Messi_Worldwide tweeted about Romário's original quote, gaining roughly 2,000 likes in one year (shown below).

On August 24th, 2021, TikToker^[13] mycheeksaresus reposted highlights football's compilation video to the platform, prompting interest in Messi's supposed autism. The TikTok received roughly 826,500 plays and 44,300 likes in one year (shown below, left). On January 10th, 2022, TikToker^[14] kit.ifc made a meme using the Girls With Autism vs. Boys With Autism template, showing Messi scoring a goal as the male example. The TikTok received roughly 175,400 plays and 8,300 likes in 11 months (shown below, right).

More Messi autism compilations surfaced on TikTok as the 2022 World Cup approached. For instance, on February 16th, 2022, TikToker^[15] sou_neysincero posted a compilation, gaining roughly 510,200 plays and 26,300 likes in ten months (shown below, left). On November 15th, 2022, amid the World Cup in Qatar, TikToker^[16] enniskey posted a video about "Messi's Disorder" gaining roughly 381,600 plays and 20,500 likes in one month (shown below, right).

Around the same time, users on Twitter continued to joke about who was making the Messi autism compilations, such as Twitter^[17] user TrujistaSancho on October 4th, 2022, who posted a quote retweet reading, "Which nigga made a Messi autism comp😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭," and earned roughly 58,400 likes in two months (shown below).