SPOTS
SECOND SPOT
“BEAT THE SILENCE. BEAT CHAGAS DISEASE.”
The second spot for the BeatChagas initiative focuses on congenital transmission of the parasite that causes Chagas disease by passing from mothers to children during pregnancy or birth. The spot aims to inform women about the risk of congenital infection and to encourage them to get tested for Trypanosoma cruzi. Approximately 5% of pregnant women that have Chagas can transmit T. cruzi to their children. It is crucial for them to understand that in the first months of life, children have a high probability of being cured if they receive appropriate medication.
This spot presents the case of Maira Carolina and her two children, Carlos and Diego. Maira Carolina is from Bolivia and has Chagas. She has lived in Barcelona for the last few years. Her children, who were tested in Barcelona, do not have Chagas. The three of them ask Leo Messi to spread the word about the importance of being tested for Chagas during pregnancy.
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 BROKE 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.
