‘I was the next Lionel Messi – now I’m making music after tough times on the pitch’

Ansu Fati’s career once carried the weight of prophecy. At 16 years and 318 days, he became the youngest player this century to score and assist in the same La Liga match, a performance so electric it earned him Barcelona’s No. 10 shirt after Lionel Messi’s departure. But prophecy is a fragile thing when injuries intervene. Fati’s promising start was derailed by a meniscus tear in 2020, followed by a relentless cycle of muscle problems that kept him sidelined for months at a time. Now, at 23, the former prodigy is rebuilding his life—and his career—at Monaco, where he hopes Ligue 1 can offer the stability his Barcelona years never did.

A career derailed by injury

Fati’s rise was meteoric. His 2019 debut season saw him score twice in a single game against Levante, a display so precocious it cemented his reputation as the heir to Messi’s crown. But football’s cruelest irony struck in 2020, when a meniscus tear sidelined him for nine months. The setback was compounded by recurring muscle issues that blurred the line between bad luck and structural fragility. His attempts to reignite his career included a loan to Brighton in the 2023/24 Premier League season, where he managed four goals in 27 appearances—a fleeting taste of top-flight football that ultimately failed to spark a permanent revival. The physical toll was matched by the psychological burden of expectation. Being labelled “the next Messi” isn’t just pressure; it’s a shadow that stretches long after the injuries start. For Fati, the gap between promise and reality became a chasm. Monaco’s summer signing represents a chance to reset, but the road back to Barcelona-level form remains steep and uncertain.

The psychological strain was evident in his post-match interviews during his Brighton spell. After a substitute appearance in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in April 2024, Fati spoke of the frustration of not starting, saying: “I want to play, to help the team. It’s not easy when you’re not on the pitch.” The admission underscored a player still searching for his rhythm, caught between ambition and the reality of limited minutes. His final contribution for Brighton came in a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in May 2024, a performance that highlighted both his technical quality and the lingering physical limitations that had curtailed his progress.

Music as therapy

In the quiet moments between rehab sessions and training, Fati turned to an unexpected outlet: music. His track Sea Como Sea—meaning “Whatever It Takes”—has amassed over 1.1 million views on YouTube, a testament to both his creative impulse and the raw honesty of his lyrics. The song’s release wasn’t a pivot away from football but a lifeline during its darkest stretches. The track’s title, derived from the Spanish phrase “sea como sea,” reflects the unyielding mindset required to navigate setbacks, a theme that resonates deeply with Fati’s journey.

“Singing is a hobby,” Fati said. “I’ve always loved music, and people who know me know it’s something I’ve had since I was a child.” The process, he explained, was organic: “Sometimes when you’re alone, you just start writing, and they just come out.” For someone accustomed to being defined by his performances on the pitch, music offered a way to articulate emotions that football couldn’t capture. It’s a reminder that identity isn’t confined to a single role—and that reinvention isn’t failure, but survival. The track’s lyrics, while deliberately ambiguous, hint at perseverance: “No matter what happens, I’ll keep going.”

Fati isn’t abandoning football. He’s working on several new tracks, with plans to release them soon. The music is a complement, not a replacement, a way to steady himself while he fights to regain his place among Europe’s elite attackers. If Monaco’s project succeeds, the spotlight will return. Until then, the beats and melodies serve as his metronome. His producer, a childhood friend from Guinea-Bissau, has been instrumental in shaping the sound, blending Afrobeats with Latin influences—a reflection of Fati’s heritage and the multicultural environment that shaped him.

The Monaco reset

Monaco’s gamble on Fati is a calculated one. The club, never shy of nurturing young talent, sees potential in a player whose technical gifts remain undeniable. Ligue 1’s physicality and tactical flexibility could suit him better than the Premier League’s relentless intensity did. The question is whether the injuries that dogged him in Spain and England have finally been addressed—or if they’re merely dormant. Monaco’s medical team has implemented a bespoke conditioning program, focusing on injury prevention and gradual workload management. The club’s sporting director, Thiago Silva, has publicly stated that Fati’s rehabilitation has been “meticulous” and that his arrival is part of a broader project to rebuild the team around young, dynamic forwards.

For now, Fati is focused on the present. The No. 10 jersey he once inherited from Messi is long gone, but the number’s symbolic weight lingers. Monaco’s challenge is to provide the environment he needs: structured, patient, and free from the suffocating expectations that once defined his Barcelona years. If he can rediscover his rhythm, Ligue 1 could be the stage where his second act begins. His first appearance for Monaco came in a 2-1 Ligue 1 win over Lorient in August 2024, where he provided an assist for Takumi Minamino, a performance that offered a glimmer of hope. The club’s 4-2-3-1 formation, with wingers stretching play, could play to Fati’s strengths as a direct, creative attacker.

Football is still his passion, he insists. “I can’t compare it to anything.” But music has given him a voice when the game took its toll. Whether it’s a hobby or a future parallel career remains to be seen. What matters now is that he’s found a way to keep moving forward—on and off the pitch. His next release, rumored to be titled “Volver” (“To Return”), is expected to delve deeper into themes of resilience and redemption, mirroring his journey back to professional football. For now, the beats keep him grounded, and the pitch remains his ultimate stage.