FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has been deemed to be highly gifted. The Argentine star, who currently plays for Inter Miami, has been recognized for his intellectual capabilities by expert Jana Martinez-Piqueras. Martinez-Piqueras highlighted Messi's exceptional talent with the ball, evident from his early days at Newell's Old Boys and later at Barcelona's La Masia academy.
According to Martinez-Piqueras, Messi possesses 'altas capacidades' or gifted intellectual capacities. She emphasized that Messi's intelligence goes beyond traditional measures like IQ tests, noting his ability to innovate plays and make precise calculations on the field.
Martinez-Piqueras explained that Messi, like individuals with high intellectual capacities, has a unique impact on his environment. She dispelled the notion that Messi's success is solely due to physical skills, emphasizing his cognitive abilities as a key factor in his performance.
The expert lamented that many individuals with high intellectual abilities, including athletes, often go unnoticed and do not receive proper cognitive training. She stressed the importance of nurturing these talents to prevent them from being underutilized.
As a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and one of the most decorated players in football history, Messi has consistently demonstrated his exceptional skills on the field. At 36 years old, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, with a legacy that will endure long after his retirement.