In a strange and unexpected statement, Marc Bartra, the current Real Betis defender and former Barcelona player, revealed an unusual side of the personality of the Argentine star Lionel Messi, his former teammate at the Catalan club, when he said that Messi was "cursing himself" in the dressing room after missing a penalty!
Bartra, who played 74 matches alongside Messi between 2010 and 2016, spoke on a famous Spanish program called "Vikando con Chistera," where he recalled one of his weirdest moments with the legend:
"During one match, Lionel missed a penalty in the first half, and between halves, I saw him enter the dressing room extremely angry, taking off his shirt and continuously cursing himself. He didn't speak to anyone, just engulfed in his anger."
But the astonishing part, as Bartra narrates, is what happened next;
Messi came back in the second half in a completely different manner, dominating the game single-handedly, as if he had overcome all his negative feelings in a moment.
"He was above everyone, literally. That ability to quickly transform and focus despite failure is what makes him the best in the world," Bartra said with clear admiration.
Bartra's journey with Barcelona's first team began in February 2010 in a match against Atletico Madrid and ended in April 2016 when they faced Sporting Gijon.
Throughout that period, he shared many matches and moments with Messi on and off the field.
Lionel Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami in the United States, continues to impress not only with his skills on the field but also with his complex personality that combines passion and extreme self-discipline.
Perhaps these small details, like that moment of anger, are an additional proof of his greatness.