Lionel Messi reacts to praise from a young Pep Guardiola (0:47)Lionel Messi watches an old video of a young Pep Guardiola praising his ability for the first time. (0:47)
On his playing mentality and the brilliance of Leandro Paredes:
It is an interesting time in his life. On Saturday, he will look to help Inter Miami to the MLS Cup, in turn lifting his first league title in outside of Europe. Back in Barcelona, where he went from teenage boy to world star, he is still revered, with constant talk of whether he will ever return as a player.
And then there is the 2026 World Cup. In little over six months, the eyes of the world will descend on the United States, Canada and Mexico as Argentina bid to defend their crown.
In a wide-ranging interview with ESPN Argentina SportsCenter below, Messi discussed a manor of topics, including family, his desire to again lead Argentina, the brilliance of Lionel Scaloni and why Pep Guardiola is one of “the best” ever.
Messi: “I’m happy; it’s very special to play another final with this club. We already played another one recently. Being able to reach the MLS final with a ‘new’ club is spectacular.”
He added: “We’ve already started working on it [the MLS final], studying the opponent, watching videos with Masche [Javier Mascherano], doing tactical work. We’re in good shape.
Messi: “I’ve said it and I’ll repeat it: this part of the season hits us differently compared to Europe. We’re going to start a tough preseason in January and then we’ll have many games in a row with the league and the Concachampions.
“I’m going to prepare myself for that, but like I said, I’ll take it day by day, being honest and realistic and trying to feel good
Messi: “I’ve always been competitive; I like to win and I try to do it. Along the way I’ve had bad stretches or tough moments, but I always keep trying and I get back up, always looking for the best.”
“Many of the things that happened to me, I only realize or value now. When you’re focused or caught up in the day-to-day, it’s very difficult. My whole career was playing every three days, always important games, always fighting for important goals.
“We’d win one and a month later we had another one, or a new year would start and I had the obligation to win everything.
“The demands of being at a big club like Barcelona, and it was the same in Paris, and also with Argentina, where you always have to go out and win.
“Most of the time it doesn’t happen or it’s very difficult, but from the start the mindset is to win everything, and the day-to-day keeps you from enjoying things.
“What’s coming becomes more important than what already happened, and with time you start valuing things much more.”
Messi: “I always say that my childhood dream was to play for Newell’s first team. I’d go to the stadium, I played there, and I dreamed of becoming a professional in Primera. Then my life changed completely because I left at 13, debuted for Barcelona, and everything that happened afterward.
“It’s something I never would’ve imagined, not even in my best dreams. I lived things much bigger than anything I could have dreamed of.”
Messi: “The truth is I’ve always been like that [a bit hot-headed on the field]. When you step onto the pitch, your personality changes. Off the field I was shy, introverted, and on the field I transformed — I yelled, I argued, I wanted to do everything right, and it still happens today.
“It’s part of the game and everything stays there. I always play to win, and I get heated, and in those moments you can’t control your emotions. For me, everything that happens stays on the field.
“[Paredes and De Paul] They’re the kind of players you want on your team, but rivals hate them. Off the field it’s completely different because they’re two amazing, normal, humble guys. But on the field they transform.
“I know the group gets along really well and that shows. I’m happy because he’s a friend, I love him a lot, and he really wanted to come back. The fact that he’s doing well makes me even happier.”
Messi: “The truth is we have extraordinary players, and it’s been shown for years — especially the desire and excitement since [Lionel] Scaloni took over.
“The mentality everyone has. It’s a squad full of winners, with strong mindsets, who want to win more, and that’s contagious. You see it in training, in matches. You see them train and they give everything.
“We’re an amazing group that gets along very well, but in training matches or certain drills, if they have to go hard, they go hard. Everyone gives their all, and that’s a huge strength of this group and this national team.
“New players keep appearing; aside from the ones already there, new faces keep coming in. When a group is like this, it’s easier for newcomers to fit in.
“Argentina needs to take advantage of this moment. Coming off winning the World Cup gives you confidence and relief to prepare competitions differently.”
Messi: “I think from day one he established an idea, and the best thing he did — beyond how he experiences the game or how he sets up matches — is his closeness to the group.
“The way he treats players, the way he connects with each of them, because he knows them as people and knows how to talk to each one, because he built this team himself, bringing in new players, even players who weren’t well known in Argentine football.
“No matter where they play, he considers them. That keeps Argentine players motivated, knowing that at any moment they could be called if they’re performing well at their club.
“He was a character [as a player.] Now he’s become much more serious and changed. But as a teammate he was totally different.
“We come from that time together, and as he says, he was close to us, even when he was with [Jorge] Sampaoli.
“He was a teammate, and because of his personality he was close to the group, he talked to everyone, he knew us all.
“We talk a lot, and he is like that with everyone. That’s his best quality: being himself, being direct, saying what he has to say to each one. Beyond that, he is an excellent coach at preparing matches, studying opponents’ weaknesses, knowing where they can hurt us.
“No, to be honest, no. It’s not even confirmed if it will be played. They don’t even know if it will happen.
“It’s like starting a new season from scratch, and having a preseason in the middle will help me a lot because European players arrive to finals with a ton of matches in their legs, like always. Except for Qatar, which was midseason, and many felt better because they had less load.
“Without pretending or acting depending on who’s watching or what people might say. I have my personality, I’m like this, and I live it this way.
“I’m very private with my circle, my family, my friends, and for me the best thing is when December comes and I can go to Rosario for the holidays, with my people.
“I had ‘arguments’ with Pep [Guardiola] because sometimes the dates didn’t work or I didn’t want to. But he always understood, he let me, and he gave me permission.
“For me that was a boost. I came back with so much more motivation because I had what I loved: going back to Rosario, being with friends and family. Day-to-day, I live the same way. I take the kids to school, I go train, we come back in the afternoon with the boys, and I live a very normal, very family-oriented life.”
Messi: “I had crossed paths with him once, but I didn’t know him, we had no relationship until he became our coach at Barcelona. Pep is unique. There are extraordinarily good coaches, but he has something special — he’s the best of all for me.
“We were lucky that we all coincided at Barcelona — him and all of us. He had the pieces he needed for what he wanted.”
“Then he went somewhere else and kept winning. It’s not just winning; it’s how his teams play. He did it at Bayern, he did it at City.
“Even though he didn’t win the Champions League at Bayern, he changed the way football was played in Germany, where they were used to a different style. In England he did the same… He not only changes a team, he changes how the whole league plays.”
“From the beginning we had a great relationship. Pep was very close, we talked a lot, and I learned an enormous amount from him
“I added more things to my game on top of what I already knew. I learned a lot with him — how to move, how to read spaces.
“He was even the one who put me as a false nine; in Barcelona’s youth teams I played behind the striker. That was really my position. Even when I debuted with [Frank] Rijkaard and later with Pep, they placed me as a winger, but I had never really played there.
“It wasn’t in my mind to make an assist just to break a record or surpass someone else. It’s hard to choose one year; thankfully I’ve had many very good ones.”
Messi (after being shown a video of his family, from an interview when he was with Argentina’s under-20s): “For me, family is everything, the most important thing.
“They were always by my side. There were tough moments. We suffered a lot with the national team. They suffer more than we do.
“In Barcelona we won everything, and then I’d come back to the national team, things wouldn’t go well, and people insulted me; they said I didn’t feel the shirt, that I shouldn’t play anymore. My family stayed in Argentina and watched all the sports shows — you know we’re all a bit masochistic. My parents and siblings had a very hard time.”
“I was lucky to always have my family. We’re very close. Same with [wife] Antonela’s family. I enjoy having them all close, because in the end, that’s what matters most.”
Messi: “Yes, I think we have a great group and we’re going to try again. After that, small details can leave you out.
“Any national team can complicate things, you hit the post and you’re out, or you lose on penalties. Even though we won on penalties, we were superior in the game against the Netherlands and against France, and still ended up going to penalties. We had the beast, [goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez] ‘Dibu’, who helped us win, but you can also go to penalties and lose.
“It’s very difficult to win a World Cup. It’s something that is lived differently: as a spectator, as a player, and as a fan. Now, seeing the group, I’m sure they will fight.