SPOTS
LANGUAGES
SPANISH | ENGLISH | CATALAN | FRENCH | PORTUGUESE
firts spot
“BEAT THE SILENCE. BEAT CHAGAS DISEASE”
Lionel Messi starred in the first spot for the awareness program called “Beat the silence. Beat Chagas disease,” managed by the FC Barcelona Foundation (FFCB), the Leo Messi Foundation (FLM), the Catalan Agency for Development and Cooperation by the Catalan Government (ACCD), and the Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit by the International Health Program run by the Catalan Institute of Health (PROSICS), with the collaboration of the Department of Neglected Tropical Diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease (FINDECHAGAS).
This spot tells the real story of Miguel Baltasar García, an 85-year-old Argentinian ex-railway worker, who currently lives in Barcelona. Miguel was born in Charata in the province of Chaco, Argentina, and he has Chagas. His testimony is a clear example of how to survive the disease–he was tested and began treatment as a young man, which showed a proactive attitude toward his situation. Thanks to his drive to improve his health, Miguel was able to overcome his disease, have a good quality of life, and fulfill one of his greatest dreams: meeting his idol, Leo Messi.
COORDINATING INSTITUTIONS
COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS
“What are we talking about when we talk about Chagas?” Group of Argentina; Outpatient Clinic for Chagas Disease and Heart Failure (PROCAPE), Federal University of Pernambuco (UPE), Brazil; International Federation of People Affected by Chagas Disease (FINDECHAGAS); Chagas Disease Control Program by the World Health Organization (WHO).
THE BALL OF ASSOCIATIONS
Discover the journey this soccer ball took to make it into the hands of Leo Messi. This ball symbolizes the union of all the different Chagas disease associations whose goal is to “Beat Chagas disease”, and it went around the world before it made it to Leo. Today the ball is on display at the FC Barcelona Museum.
WHY MESSI? HE BREAKED THE SILENCE
Lionel is a leader. To get to where he is now, he needed to fight and break the silence. Discover why Lionel Messi decided to support the “Beat Chagas Disease” campaign.
