LIONEL Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time.
As a prolific goal scorer Messi is often seen celebrating by pointing both hands toward the sky – and here’s why.
Why does Lionel Messi point to the sky when he scores?
When a footballer hits the back of the net, each player celebrates in their own way.
For example, Man City star Erling Haaland celebrates many of his goals by sitting down and posing.
Others are seen pointing towards the skies to thank God or recognise someone who has passed away.
In Messi’s case, he does just that – after each goal, he can be seen using both hands to point toward the sky.
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His goal celebration is dedicated to his late grandmother.
The PSG and Argentina star explained years ago that the poignant gesture was dedicated to his grandmother, Celia Olivera Cuccittini, who passed away when he was just 11-years-old.
He explained: “I am doing this because I dedicate my goals to my grandmother.
“She took to me to football, but now she can’t see how far I have come. Nevertheless, she continues to help me and my family.”
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Who was Celia Olivera Cuccittini?
Celia Olivera Cuccittini was the grandmother of Lionel Messi and the woman behind his trademark celebration.
Ms Cuccittini sadly passed away in 1998, but she had already paved the way for him to become the star that he is today.
During an interview with Diario Ole in 2021, the PSG player told of how his late grandmother played a pivotal role during his childhood.
Speaking on his earlier years and his neighbourhood club, Messi explained: ”One of my brothers or cousins were playing and we used to go there every day because we are of different ages and categories.
”The ‘86 team was playing, who are a year older than me, and they needed a player, so my grandmother told the coach ‘put him in the team’.”
The coach then replied: ”No, how am I going to but him in the team, look how small he is, you’re crazy, he’s going to get hurt.”
But a persistent Ms Cuccittini continued to insist her grandson take to the pitch, saying: ”Put him, put him.”
Messi continued and said: ”Apparently, when I went in, I did a couple of things and from then on, my grandmother came back and told him ‘buy him soccer boots, I’ll take him to training next week’ and that’s when I started.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
