At 11 years old, Lionel Messi had stopped growing completely and stood just 4'4" after being diagnosed with Growth Hormone Deficiency.
Doctors believed he could reach only around 4'7" without treatment, forcing him to give himself daily hormone injections that cost around $900–1,000 a month.
When FC Barcelona signed him at 13, the club agreed to pay for his treatment, allowing him to complete therapy and eventually reach his adult height of 5'7".