LIONEL MESSI has revealed that the effects of Covid-19 have meant he has been struggling with respiratory problems.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, 34, fell ill with the virus in January.
As a result, he missed Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia, as well as three domestic games with PSG.
But now he has revealed he was suffering from long-term effects of the disease, which affected his lungs.
In an interview with TYC Sports earlier this week, he said: “It left me with repercussions.
“It left lingering effects in my lungs. I came back and it went like a month and a half without even being able to walk because my lungs were affected.”
Despite being out for around three weeks earlier in the year, Messi also admitted he had returned too soon, which ultimately caused his condition to deteriorate.
He added: “I came back before I should have and it got worse because I was speeding and it ended up throwing me back.
“But I couldn’t take it anymore, I wanted to run, train – I wanted to get started. And it ended up getting worse.”
Messi had a difficult start in life in Ligue 1.
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Aside from dealing with various injury issues and illnesses, he hasn’t been able to reach the same heights as at Barcelona.
He was also treated badly by PSG fans.
In March he received boos and jeers from fans in a 3-0 home win against Bordeaux.
Some even urged him to leave by vandalizing PSG’s training ground with graffiti reading ‘Leo out’.
However, despite the underwhelming season, he is set to remain at Parc des Princes next year.
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