Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi; born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona. Often considered the best player in the world and rated by many in the sport as the greatest of all time, Messi is the only football player in history to win five FIFA Ballons d'Or, four of which he won consecutively, and the first player to win three European Golden Shoes. With Barcelona he has won eight...
NationalityArgentinian
ProfessionSoccer Player
Date of Birth24 June 1987
CitySanta Fe, Argentina
I still have a lot of room for improvement. For example, I want to shoot equally well with both feet.
The Barcelona youth program is one of the best in the world. As a kid, they teach you not to play to win, but to grow in ability as a player.
You have to show up in the World Cup, and in the World Cup anything can happen.
My family was always present when I needed them and sometimes felt even stronger emotions than me.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU ACHIEVE, EVERY SEASON IS A NEW SEASON. WHAT YOU ACHIEVED THE SEASON BEFORE IS NO LONGER RELEVANT.
I always thought about carrying on training and working, chasing my dream.
OF COURSE MONEY TAKES WORRY OUT OF YOUR LIFE AND ENABLES YOU TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY - BUT IF IT WAS PLAYING PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL FOR FREE OR CHOOSE ANOTHER LIVING, THEN I WOULD CHOOSE FOOTBALL EVERY TIME.
I NEVER LOOK BACK AT WHAT I HAVE ACHIEVED BECAUSE I AM ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE FUTURE. I CAN LOOK BACK AT WHAT I HAVE ACHIEVED WHEN I AM RETIRED - BUT UNTIL THEN IT IS ALL ABOUT FOCUS.
My style of play has always been the same. I never tried to develop a specific style. From very young I just played this way.
YOU KNOW AS A PLAYER THAT YOU WON'T HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY IN WORLD CUPS - SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM WHEN YOU CAN.
My first memories are from when I was very little, maybe three or four years old playing in my neighbourhood at home. I can picture myself with the ball at my feet from a very young age.
IT IS NOT COINCIDENCE THAT AT BARCELONA WE HAVE LOW-KEY LIFESTYLES AND WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. WE KNOW WE ARE FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND NOT MOVIE STARS.
We can't be overconfident. It happened to us when we were leading 2-1 in last year's game. Chelsea has players who can score two goals at any moment and we have to realize we have achieved nothing yet.
Messi or Ronaldo best player in the world? In the world, I would say Ronaldo. Messi is from another planet.