Kevin-Prince Boateng’s brief but eye-opening stint at Barcelona in 2018/19 gave him a front-row seat to Lionel Messi’s unconventional training habits. While the world marveled at Messi’s brilliance on matchdays, Boateng saw another side of the Argentine—one that, in his view, wasn’t the best example for young players.

Recalling his time at the Catalan club, Boateng painted a vivid picture of Messi’s pre-game routine. “We come into the dressing room, and he’s just sitting there on his phone, getting a massage. Two minutes before we go out, he stands up, laces his boots, and heads out. In the warm-up, he does the crossbar challenge and then goes back inside. Right before kickoff, he FaceTimes, throws on his jacket, and—BOOM—goal, goal, goal.”

Boateng suggested that Messi’s laid-back approach to training had a trickle-down effect on Barcelona’s younger players like Malcom and Ousmane Dembélé. “They saw him and thought they could do the same, but when game time came, they weren’t Messi—they got injured.”

Yet, despite this attitude, Messi’s dominance on the pitch was unquestionable. With eight Ballon d’Or titles and countless trophies, he remained an enigma—effortless yet unstoppable.

The question remains: was Messi’s influence in the dressing room a gift or a curse? For young players trying to follow in his footsteps, the answer may not be as simple as his magic on the field.