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Football is also the most popular sport in the world because it sometimes writes really incredible stories that are strikingly similar to a Hollywood movie. The 30-year-old Junior Messias, who scored the winning goal in the Champions League duel with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday in the AC Milan jersey (0: 1), also knows about it.
Junior Messias was born in 1991 in Brazil’s fifth largest city, Belo Horizonte. Despite the fact that he came from the country where the football god Pelé was born and where football was the number one social theme, at first it did not look like he could make a living as a footballer in the future.
“I learned to play football on the street with my friends. Sometimes I kicked the ball myself, wherever I found a place. It was a great feeling because it was what I liked to do, what I enjoyed the most, ” described his football beginnings for MilanTV Messias himself.
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The key year for Messias was 2011, when he made a difficult but later decision that turned out to be the right one. He moved with his wife and son to Turin, Italy, with his brother.
“My parents have always supported me. I grew up thanks to my family, wife and children. When I first came to Italy, everything was foreign to me, because I had never even left my hometown before.
But I quickly adapted and found a job. After about 30-40 days, my brother, thanks to whom I got here, returned to Brazil, while I stayed here, ” recalls the difficult beginnings of the Apennine Junior Messias.
Photo gallery
Junior Messias in AC Milan in a match against Atlétic Madrid.
Zdroj: SITA / AP
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IN ONE MOMENT, THE LOSS WAS LOST
Three years ago, Messias worked in Serie D, Italy’s highest amateur competition. So football played in the 25s, as well as in childhood, primarily for fun. In addition, he worked as a courier, distributing various electrical appliances, especially washing machines.
Messias did not sign his first professional contract until the beginning of the 2018/19 season, when he advanced to Serie C with his team at the time. up to Serie A.
In one of the most prestigious football leagues in the world, Messias played 36 matches last season with a great balance of 9 goals and 4 assists, making him a clear offensive leader Crotone. His performances were also noticed in AC Milan and in the end it was the “Rossoneri” who won the Messias for hosting in the summer.
“At one point I lost hope. I was 25 years old, but I still played only on an amateur level and practically just for fun. I would never have thought that one day I would get this far, to such a high level. The amateur league usually lasts ten months, so in the past I also had a signed contract for only those ten months.
For the remaining two months of the year, instead of going on vacation, I worked like a normal person. I used to be a courier, but paradoxically it was this stage of my life that showed me real values in life. It gave me the motivation to keep up the hard work, ” said after signing a contract with AC Milan Junior Messias.
Photo gallery
Junior Messias in AC Milan in a match against Atlétic Madrid.
Zdroj: SITA / AP
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Today, the 30-year-old Brazilian made his debut in the “Rossoneri” jersey on October 4, when he started as a substitute for the match against Atalant. Well, and the culmination of this extraordinary story was Wednesday’s Champions League duel when AC Milan traveled to Atlética Madrid.
The guests from Italy needed to win at least a theoretical chance to advance from the group. In the football world, however, it is well known that points are never easy to collect at Wanda Metropolitano. For a long time, it looked like both teams would start home with one point after a 0-0 draw.
In the 65th minute, Messias ran on the lawn, who 22 minutes later enjoyed his first goal in the AC Milan jersey, when he sent the ball behind one of the best goalkeepers in the world – Jan Oblak. This goal was ultimately victorious and for the “Rossoneri” it was worth its weight in gold.
“His story is beautiful. But I think this is just the beginning for him, because he has a really big potential. When he came to us, at first he had problems fitting into the team, but now I really feel that he will help the team, “ AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli spoke to Messias in the post-match press.
“I’m here because of my hard work, I’ve sacrificed a lot. Remember, dreams come true, you just have to believe in them. ” concludes his story with a Brazilian who never gave up the dream of becoming a professional footballer.
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