He was the kid who was supposed to make us forget about everyone else. Before Lamine Yamal was even a thought and while Lionel Messi was still finding his feet as a global icon, there was Bojan Krkić.
At the age of nine, he walked into La Masia. By the time he left the youth ranks, he had reportedly scored over 900 goals. That is not a typo. Nine hundred. The hype was not just real; it was deafening. But then, as quickly as the rise began, the narrative shifted. The world saw the goals, the trophies, and that boyish grin, but the documentary Bojan, Behind the Smile (or Bojan, más allá de la sonrisa) finally pulls back the curtain on the price of that early fame.
Honestly, it’s a tough watch if you love the game. It’s even tougher if you care about the humans playing it.
The 24-Hour Dizziness
Imagine being 17. You should be worried about exams or who you're taking to the local festival in Linyola. Instead, Bojan was breaking Messi’s record as the youngest player to ever debut for FC Barcelona. He wasn't just playing; he was producing. In his first season under Frank Rijkaard, he netted 12 goals.
But behind the scenes? Everything was falling apart.
Bojan describes a sensation that most of us would find paralyzing: constant, 24-hour dizziness. It wasn't just "big game nerves." It was a physiological manifestation of extreme anxiety. In the documentary, he sits down with Dr. Josep Monseny, the psychoanalyst who helped him navigate those dark years. They talk about the "powerful pressure" in his head.
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He was a kid trapped in a superstar's body, and his brain was screaming for an exit.
The Euro 2008 Secret
For years, the story was that Bojan turned down Luis Aragonés and the Spanish national team for Euro 2008 because he was "tired" or "arrogant." The media slaughtered him. Fans in Murcia insulted him.
The truth revealed in Bojan Behind the Smile is much more human—and much more tragic.
He had a panic attack right before he was supposed to debut against France in February 2008. The Spanish FA told the press it was gastroenteritis. It wasn't. Bojan was literally sick with fear. When the call came for the Euros, he knew he couldn't go. He told the Federation he was sick, but the "official" version let him take the fall.
He stayed home while Spain won the tournament, and he spent that summer being called a traitor by people who didn't know he was struggling just to walk down the street without feeling like he was going to faint.
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A Dressing Room of Giants
Think about that 2007-2011 Barcelona locker room.
- Thierry Henry: The "big brother" who tried to shield him.
- Zlatan Ibrahimović: The eccentric superstar who actually ended up being benched for Bojan at one point.
- Pep Guardiola: The tactical genius who, while successful, didn't always have the "vibe" or the patience to manage Bojan’s sensitive nature.
The documentary features heavy hitters like Andrés Iniesta and Gerard Piqué. They don't just talk about tactics. They talk about the boy who was suffering in silence while the world expected him to be a god. It’s a sobering reminder that "the next Messi" tag is a lead weight, not a badge of honor.
Life After the Nou Camp
Bojan didn't just disappear. He became a footballing nomad. He went to Roma, Milan, Ajax, and then—in a move that feels like a fever dream—Stoke City.
People laughed. "Can he do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke?"
Actually, he could. He loved Stoke. For the first time, the pressure of being "The New Messi" faded. He was just Bojan. He was a guy playing in the Premier League, away from the suffocating expectations of Catalonia. He traveled to Mainz, Alavés, Montreal, and finally Japan to play with his old friend Iniesta at Vissel Kobe.
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He retired at 32. Not because of a blown-out knee or a lack of offers. He retired because he was full. He had "lived it, suffered it, and celebrated it." He was done.
The New Role: Protecting the Next Generation
If you go to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper today, you’ll still see Bojan. He’s back at Barça as the "Football Area Coordinator."
Basically, he’s the guy who looks after the kids. When Lamine Yamal breaks a record or Pau Cubarsí starts a Champions League match, Bojan is the one in their ear. He isn't just talking about body positioning or passing lanes. He’s talking about school. He’s talking about mental health.
He is the living embodiment of a cautionary tale turned success story. He didn't become Messi, but he became a man who survived the machine.
What you can do next:
If you’re a coach, a parent of a young athlete, or just a fan, take 52 minutes to watch the documentary on Rakuten TV. It’s free. Beyond just the football, pay attention to the segments with Dr. Monseny. It provides a rare look at the clinical side of sports psychology that usually stays behind closed doors. For those following the current crop of Barcelona youngsters, use Bojan’s story as a lens to view players like Ansu Fati or Lamine Yamal—prioritize their humanity over their highlights.