@FootynewsLIONEL MESSI recalls being in Cadetes at age 14 or 15 when an elbow to the face during a match against Espanyol fractured his cheekbone. The following weekend, his squad faced off in the final of the Copa Catalunya, a tournament Messi notes he doesn't know if it is still played today. Since Puyol had previously played with a mask after suffering the same injury, one was sent to him for use. Messi trained with the mask a couple of times and came on for five minutes, but found it impossible because it was too big and moved everywhere. He took the mask off and proceeded to score two goals while playing without protection as his team won the match 3-0. At the 30th minute, they took him off. His dad was there shouting at the coach not to play without a mask and to take Messi off, which is what happened in the end. Yet at that moment, Messi did not realize the danger of what could happen. He wanted to play no matter what. I ONLY WANTED TO PLAY BALL. #LionelMessi

@FootynewsLIONEL MESSI recalls being in Cadetes at age 14 or 15 when an elbow to the face during a match against Espanyol fractured his cheekbone. The following weekend, his squad faced off in the final of the Copa Catalunya, a tournament Messi notes he doesn't know if it is still played today. Since Puyol had previously played with a mask after suffering the same injury, one was sent to him for use. Messi trained with the mask a couple of times and came on for five minutes, but found it impossible because it was too big and moved everywhere. He took the mask off and proceeded to score two goals while playing without protection as his team won the match 3-0. At the 30th minute, they took him off. His dad was there shouting at the coach not to play without a mask and to take Messi off, which is what happened in the end. Yet at that moment, Messi did not realize the danger of what could happen. He wanted to play no matter what. I ONLY WANTED TO PLAY BALL. #LionelMessi