For more than two decades, Lionel Messi has been celebrated as the embodiment of perfection—on and off the field. To the world, he’s the humble genius, the family man, the quiet warrior who let his feet do the talking. But behind that calm exterior, sources now claim there’s been a secret habit Messi has carried for over 10 years—one he kept hidden even from his wife Antonela and closest teammates.

According to those close to the Argentine superstar, Messi’s “hidden obsession” wasn’t about fame, money, or even football. It was something much more personal—something that reflected both his anxiety and his unrelenting pursuit of control. Late at night, long after everyone in his household had gone to bed, Messi reportedly stayed awake for hours, rewatching old matches—not highlights, but full games, frame by frame.

“Leo would sit alone in the living room, studying every touch, every pass, even his mistakes,” a former Barcelona staff member revealed. “Sometimes he would go over the same match ten, fifteen times. He wanted to understand what he could have done better, even if the team had already won 5–0.”

This ritual, according to insiders, began in the early 2010s, around the time Messi was under enormous pressure to carry both Barcelona and Argentina to victory after repeated disappointments in international tournaments. While others celebrated or rested, Messi’s nights became consumed by what some describe as “silent self-punishment.”

“He couldn’t switch off,” the source continued. “After a bad game, he wouldn’t sleep. He would replay everything in his head until sunrise. It wasn’t just about winning—it was about being perfect.”

At first, even Antonela reportedly believed Messi was simply staying up late because of training schedules or insomnia. But over time, she began to notice his exhaustion. “He would wake up drained, quiet, distracted,” said a family friend. “It was like his body was there, but his mind was still replaying the night before.”

Teammates too, including some of his closest friends like Sergio Agüero, noticed subtle signs. “He’s always been obsessive in a good way,” one ex-Barcelona player explained. “But sometimes, it went beyond normal dedication. It was almost like he couldn’t forgive himself for being human.”

Messi’s late-night habit reportedly grew worse after Argentina’s heartbreaking 2014 World Cup loss to Germany. Those close to him say that for months afterward, he couldn’t stop watching that final match, convinced he could have changed the outcome. “He’d pause the video at key moments and whisper to himself, ‘Why didn’t I shoot earlier?’” another insider shared.

Ironically, this very obsession—what some call his “secret curse”—may have also been the key to his greatness. While others moved on from mistakes, Messi confronted them until they no longer had power over him. “That’s why he’s different,” said a coach who worked with him during his Barcelona years. “He turns pain into motivation. But it comes at a cost.”

Only in recent years, after moving to Inter Miami and achieving his long-awaited World Cup victory in 2022, has Messi reportedly begun to let go of this routine. Those close to him say he’s finally learning to sleep peacefully again, focusing on family time and enjoying life off the pitch.

Still, the scars of that silent struggle remain. Behind the calm smile of a legend lies a man who once battled perfectionism to the edge of obsession—a reminder that even the greatest among us carry private burdens.

As one of his former teammates summed it up: “People see Messi as a magician. But what they don’t see is the lonely man behind the magic—the one who spent countless nights chasing perfection that didn’t exist.”

And perhaps, that’s what makes Lionel Messi not just a football legend, but a human one.