Lionel Messi Autism Speculation: a Complete Timeline of How the Rumor Grew
By Elena Rostova
In September 2013, Brazilian legend-turned-senator Romário took to Twitter (now X) to share Amado’s claim with his millions of followers. Romário wrote that Messi had Asperger’s syndrome, describing it as "a gift" that allowed him to concentrate better than anyone else on the pitch, comparing him to historical figures like Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton.
The reaction from Rosario was swift and furious. Jorge Messi, Lionel’s father and business manager, publicly denied the claims and instructed legal counsel to prepare a defamation lawsuit against Romário. The family clarified that Lionel had never received any such diagnosis and expressed deep frustration over the casual weaponization of clinical developmental disorders for online engagement.
Romário refused to delete his remarks immediately, arguing that he had merely summarized an article written by a journalist and meant no offense. The threatened legal action effectively forced mainstream international sports desks to treat the claim as baseless speculation rather than breaking news, halting official reports in major European newspapers.
Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.
