Managing Lionel Messi's fitness during his golden days at FC Barcelona was no easy task, but a high-precision operation aimed at protecting the institution's most valuable asset. Juanjo Brau, who dedicated 25 years to the Blaugrana club and was a key figure in the medical staff, has broken his silence on what it was like to look after the Argentine star's health.

In statements collected after the publication of his book 'What Football Doesn't See', Brau recalled the constant pressure of escorting Messi even in his international commitments with the Argentina national team. "They saw me almost like a prosecutor. I had to be in there without invading and without being seen as an enemy," confessed the specialist.

Former Barcelona physiotherapist reveals what it was like to work with Lionel Messi

For the coaching staff and management of that Barcelona team, Messi was not just another member of the squad, but a player whose presence determined the success or failure of the season. Brau emphasizes that the different treatment was not a matter of privilege, but of sporting survival.

We wanted to control what was happening because he was our franchise player, our heritage. Without Leo we wouldn't have won everything we did, we had to take care of him

Juanjo Brau

The "problems" of working with Messi

One of the most complex challenges for the medical team was managing Messi's own expectations. Brau points out that saying "no" to a competitor of that caliber requires a special strategy. "Saying 'yes' is something everyone can do," he said, stressing that banning him from playing was only done when it was strictly unavoidable and progressively.

🚨 Juanjo Brau (former Barça physio):

▪️Lionel Messi was a completely different personality. Because we needed him, we had to be extremely attentive in managing every situation.

▪️When Messi was on the treatment table, players would walk by and ask me: ‘He’ll be ready for… pic.twitter.com/LaNPKoj84b

— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) March 29, 2026

However, the level of demand and extreme closeness eventually took its toll. In 2013, the direct professional relationship between the two came to an end, a move Brau describes today as a necessary "liberation."

"There comes a time when everything gets very compressed and it becomes a personal cost," said the professional, making it clear that although the stage was historic, the strain of protecting the best player in the world had a human limit.