Crying when Messi is tackled: "It's as if we raised him"

In the premiere of "The great World Cup journey", SVT Sport visits Lionel Messi's childhood neighborhood in Rosario, Argentina.

Ruben Manicabale lives opposite Messi's childhood home.

He has lived there for 50 years and has seen Lionel Messi go from a shy boy next door to become one of the best footballers of all time.  

- I only remember Lionel since he was in his mother's womb, says Ruben.

Sat as a babysitter

Ruben and his family were close to the Messi family.

His daughter was friends with Lionel's mother and often babysat.

- He was like a son.

When he plays and someone tackles him, my wife starts crying.

For us, it's as if we raised him, says Ruben.  

Do you have any contact today? 

- No, because they are almost never here.

But when they come, sure.

And when we meet at the grocery store, we talk.  

What was Lionel like as a child?  

- He was the same then as now.

He is exactly the same.

He is shy.

He is very nice, he says.

Neighbor Ruben Manicabale shows pictures of Lionel Messi (TV) when he was a baby.

Photo: SVT

"Sat against the wall"

Although it was a while ago that Lionel Messi visited his childhood neighborhoods, it still happens, as he owns a house in Rosario.  

- He came here once when we had a big neighborhood party on New Year's Eve.

He was so shy that he took a chair and sat by the wall.

There he sat all night.

Everyone danced - except him.

The rest of us amused ourselves until four five in the morning, but he remained there.

And then he was already a great player.

That describes what Lionel Messi is like.  

See the entire episode from Rosario in "The big WC trip" in SVT Play.