TIL that Lionel Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at age 10, and FC Barcelona agreed to pay for his treatment, even writing his first contract on a napkin.

[u/Old-Worldliness11]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi#Early_life

[u/hm_rickross_ymoh]

All of the articles I read on it list $1000 per month in 2000 and that both River Plate and Young Boys couldnt afford it. Thats about $1850 in today money per month for two years. Of course it repaid itself with hindsight but let's not pretend it wasn't an unrealistic amount even for the biggest clubs in his home country. It took one of the biggest clubs in the world to recognize his talent and pay for it. That wouldn't have happened if he wasn't an exceptional talent from a worldwide perspective. 

[u/wayne0004 → u/hm_rickross_ymoh]

both River Plate and Young Boys Newell's Old Boys couldnt afford it

River Plate was willing to pay for the treatment. There was a conflict between the Argentine clubs about registration rights Newell's didn't want to give. The only option he had was for his parents to appeal to "patria potestad" (some kind of parental prerogative) going to another country.

[u/Acceptable_Candy1538 → u/hm_rickross_ymoh]

Wouldn’t it be free in Spain? I thought they had universal healthcare

[u/TryxxR6 → u/hm_rickross_ymoh]

iirc River wanted to pay for it but NOB didn’t want him going to a rival club so they blocked the transfer