If the internet were a detective, it would probably solve zero crimes. Case in point: the endless theories about whether Lionel Messi has autism.
Type it into Google, and you’ll find a rabbit hole of speculation, video analyses, and “expert opinions” from people who’ve never met him.
So what’s the real story? In this blog, we will break down everything you need to know.
We’ll learn the truth about Messi’s autism, what actual doctors have said, and why Messi’s quiet personality sparked all this guesswork.
You’ll also learn what autism actually means and how it got tangled up with Messi’s confirmed childhood health condition.
Let’s separate the facts from the fan theories once and for all.
Does Messi Have Autism?
Let’s get straight to the point: No official public diagnosis exists, and Messi himself has never said he’s autistic or has Asperger’s syndrome.
What you’re seeing online is pure speculation. People notice certain personality traits and make guesses, but that’s not the same as medical proof.
Messi is known for being quiet and private, but being reserved doesn’t mean someone is autistic.
The truth? This is one of those internet rumors that spreads fast but lacks a solid foundation.
Has Any Doctor Confirmed or Denied It?
Here’s what we actually know from medical professionals:
Denied: A doctor who treated Messi when he was young has publicly called the Asperger’s and autism rumors “silly.” According to this doctor, Messi was never diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Rumor Fuel: The speculation picked up steam after comments were attributed to Brazilian footballer Romário about Asperger’s syndrome. These comments got twisted and shared widely, especially on social media.
The Reality: Without Messi or his official medical team confirming anything, these remain just rumors, nothing more.
Why Do People Think Messi has Autism
People point to certain traits they observe in Messi and connect dots that might not actually be connected. Here’s what they typically mention:
- Quiet and reserved personality – He’s not chatty in interviews or on social media
- Intense focus during matches – His concentration on the field is legendary
- Avoids flashy media behavior – Unlike some athletes, he keeps a low profile
- Different body language – Some say his mannerisms seem unique compared to other stars
These traits can describe lots of different personalities. Introversion, shyness, intense focus, or just preferring privacy, none of these automatically mean someone is autistic. Making that jump isn’t fair or accurate.
What Autism (ASD) Is and What It Isn’t
Before going further, let’s clear up what autism spectrum disorder actually means.
Autism is a developmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact socially, process sensory information, and handle routines.
The word “spectrum” is key here; it means autism shows up differently in different people. Some autistic individuals need significant support in daily life, while others live independently and have successful careers.
What autism is NOT:
- A single personality type or “look”
- Something you can spot just by watching someone play sports
- Always connected to being a genius or having special talents
- The same in everyone who has it
Where “Asperger’s” Fits Today
You might see “Asperger’s syndrome” mentioned in older articles or social media posts about Messi.
Here’s what to know: Asperger’s used to be diagnosed separately, but modern medicine now includes it under the broader autism spectrum disorder (ASD) umbrella.
Many people still use the term “Asperger’s,” especially online, but clinically it’s now part of ASD.
Where the Messi Autism/Asperger’s Rumor Started
Rumors don’t just appear out of nowhere. Here’s how this one likely spread:
| Time Period | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Around 2013 | Comments attributed to Romário and a journalist started circulating online, suggesting Messi might have Asperger’s syndrome |
| Social Media Boom | Fans created video compilations and posts analyzing Messi’s behavior as “proof.” |
| Echo Chamber Effect | Low-quality websites and blogs copied each other’s claims without checking facts |
| Today | The rumor persists because people keep searching for it and finding old, unverified content |
Why repetition feels like truth: When you see the same claim on multiple websites, your brain might think “this must be real.”
But if all those sites are just copying each other without checking sources, it’s still just one unverified rumor, repeated many times.
Short video clips showing someone looking shy or focused can seem like evidence, but they’re just moments taken out of context. Everyone has awkward moments on camera!
These types of clips led people to wonder whether Messi is autistic. Here’s a compilation of such clips by woesy:
Messi’s Childhood Growth Hormone Deficiency
Here’s something that is confirmed about Messi’s childhood health: Lionel Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) when he was young.
This condition meant his body wasn’t producing enough growth hormone naturally, which could have affected his height and development.
What Happened:
- His family discovered the condition when he was around 10-11 years old
- Treatment required growth hormone injections
- FC Barcelona eventually agreed to pay for his treatment when he joined their youth academy
- The treatment was successful, and he grew to his adult height
Growth hormone deficiency has nothing to do with autism. These are completely separate medical conditions. Some people confuse or mix up different “diagnoses” they hear about celebrities, but GHD and autism are unrelated.
This confusion is part of why rumors stick around. People hear “Messi had a medical condition as a child” and fill in the blanks with whatever rumor they’ve heard.
Why Armchair Diagnosing Celebrities Can Backfire
Guessing about someone’s medical or mental health status might seem harmless, but it actually causes real problems:
1. Privacy Matters: Nobody, celebrity or not, should have their private health information speculated about publicly. Messi hasn’t chosen to share this part of his life (if it even exists), and that choice deserves respect.
2. Spreads Harmful Stereotypes:When people say, “Messi must be autistic because he’s quiet and talented,” it reinforces stereotypes that all autistic people are the same way.The autism community includes people with all different personalities, skills, and communication styles.
3. Turns Neurodiversity into Gossip: Autism is part of human diversity, not entertainment or a fun guessing game. Treating it like celebrity gossip can make actual autistic people feel like they’re being reduced to stereotypes.
4. Confuses People Seeking Real Information:When someone searches “does Messi have autism,” because they’re learning about autism or because they relate to Messi’s personality, finding unreliable speculation instead of facts doesn’t help them.It might even spread misunderstandings about what autism actually is.
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, there’s no solid evidence that Messi has autism. What we have are rumors, speculation, and people reading too much into his quiet personality.
Being shy or focused doesn’t automatically mean someone is autistic; it just means they’re human.
Messi’s real childhood health challenge was growth hormone deficiency, which has nothing to do with autism. Until Messi or his doctors say otherwise, these autism theories are just that, theories without proof.
Remember, celebrities deserve privacy about their health just as everyone else does. Plus, turning autism into a guessing game isn’t fair to the millions of people actually living on the spectrum.
Got thoughts on this topic? Drop a comment below and let’s keep the conversation respectful and fact-based.
