Lionel Messi might be the biggest name in soccer, but just like any other superstar, he isn’t safe from becoming a meme. The Argentine is often captured dozing off in public spaces, looking into blank space. All these images and videos have started a meme which is named “Messi is never beating the allegations.”
For context, the allegations stem from a report posted by the Brazilian website Diariodo Centro Domundo. The article headline read (translated into English): “How autism helped Messi become the best in the world.” The report alleged that Lionel Messi suffered from Asperger’s Syndrome. They claimed that the syndrome had worked in his favor in becoming the best in the world.
Messi is never beating the autism allegations😭😭😭😭😭
pic.twitter.com/mAooLo312J— Aryan🇪🇸 (@aaryanpriv) May 1, 2023
The Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has not helped in this regard as he is often caught in the background of various videos looking bizarre. The eagle-eyed fans have always pointed these out with the comment, “Messi is never beating the allegations.” The comments echo the sentiment that if the Argentine is caught with such bizarre behavior, he will never beat the allegations reported by the Brazilian website in 2013.
Vcs sabiam q o Messi tem Síndrome de Asperger? É uma forma leve de autismo, q deu a ele o dom do foco e concentração acima de tudo e d todos
— Romário (@RomarioOnze) September 8, 2013
The meme has ingrained itself into the soccer culture. This meme is usually the only weapon for Messi haters to undermine any achievement of the Argentine. The meme started spreading on social media when former FC Barcelona and Brazilian player, Romário, tweeted about the syndrome on ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter.
Is Lionel Messi Autistic?
The report and meme have always raised some doubts about Lionel Messi and his abilities. There have been some strong queries on social media about whether the Argentine is actually Autistic. Apart from a few YouTube videos and some tabloid reports, there isn’t much to prove that Messi is Autistic or suffers from Asperger’s syndrome.
Under Asperger’s syndrome, patients might be socially awkward and are passionately geared toward certain topics in which they are interested. Messi is an introverted person in general and tries to stay away from the limelight. However, this trait alone cannot prove that Messi suffers from Asperger’s syndrome.
Messi is NEVER beating those allegations 😭
— Dérangement Municipal 2.0 (@LapiroDeBanga) June 23, 2023
There are only a handful of soccer players that suffer from this syndrome. Former Manchester United player John O’Kane was among the ones who have publically reported this condition. He had to take an early retirement from the sport to receive proper treatment.
Lionel Messi has carried on with his career without any worries, which clears doubt about this syndrome. Moreover, it wouldn’t be beneficial for Lionel Messi’s camp to hide this syndrome if that was the case. All the evidence and lack of evidence point to the fact that these claims are just part of a soccer meme that has been running for more than a decade.