Lionel Messi distributed 40 motorcycles and organized multiple raffles for administrative and maintenance personnel at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) headquarters in Ezeiza during his time under manager Alejandro Sabella, according to former assistant coach Julián Camino.
The Ezeiza Headquarters Raffles
During Sabella’s tenure managing the Argentina national team from 2011 to 2014, Messi frequently organized lotteries and distributed gifts among the 40 staff members working at the Ezeiza training facility, Camino revealed during an appearance on the streaming program No juegan con nadie. The former Estudiantes player and defensive assistant explained that the forward inquired about the exact headcount of the facility’s workforce before purchasing vehicles.
“Messi has helped much of the personnel at the AFA complex,” Camino stated, as reported by multiple outlets. When told the staff numbered 40, Messi purchased 20 motorcycles for an initial round of raffles. Women who worked at the site arrived on buses and subsequently departed with their new vehicles, according to Camino’s account. Following the first drawing, the forward acquired another 20 motorcycles to ensure every remaining staff member received a prize, remarking that those who missed the initial draw would receive alternative travel gifts.
Team Integration and Card Games
Beyond material contributions, the coaching staff described a dressing room dynamic free of hierarchy despite Messi’s status as the global game’s premier talent. Camino noted that the squad actively folded the coaching staff into their daily routines during international travel. Players routinely invited Camino, fellow assistant Claudio Gugnali, and Sabella to participate in truco, a traditional River Plate card game, while aboard team flights.
“He never placed any barriers between us,” Camino said. “He always supported us and never pushed us aside despite our flaws, always pushing forward.” Additional reporting from outlets covering the broadcast highlighted that Messi’s affinity for truco persisted long after the Sabella era, with the captain later participating in high-stakes internal card tournaments alongside teammates such as Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Lost Quarterfinal Jersey
Camino’s recollections also included a personal item gifted by the forward following Argentina’s victory against Belgium in the quarterfinals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. After the match, Messi left his match-worn jersey in the dressing room, where Camino requested it. The player delivered the garment unwashed and subsequently signed it for the assistant a few days later.
Camino framed the signed shirt, mounting it in a frame kept at his country property. Years later, however, the memorabilia item was stolen during a break-in at the property, ending the personal keepsake’s history.
Context in the Wake of International Retirement
The disclosures surfaced following Messi’s formal departure from international competition after a 21-year career with the senior national team that yielded 207 appearances, 125 goals, and 68 assists. Throughout that span, the captain collected titles at the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América tournaments, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medal.
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