Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and their children after winning the World Cup. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)
Argentina’s World Cup winning captain, who turned 37 earlier this week, still finds it hard to tone down his competitiveness, even within the confines of his home.
Speaking to Clank in a sit down interview, Lionel Messi called his competing nature a ‘gift’ he was born with.
“My competitiveness will never go away, it’s a gift. That’s just who I am, I was born this way, and it’s very difficult for it to fade. I even find it hard to let my children win,” Messi said.
Messi, who is currently leading Argentina at the 2024 Copa America in the USA, also opened about his perception of data in football and why it doesn’t bother him. This, despite his otherworldly numbers, for club and country.
“I don’t pay attention to statistics, data, assists, or goals. And sorry to the coaches, but even less to GPS. I’ve never cared about how much I run in a match or at what speed. It must be important for them and for day-to-day training loads, but I’ve never been a fan of GPS,” Messi said.
Having won the Copa America and the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in the previous international tournament football cycle, Messi also expressed how success with the national team has renewed his love for the sport.
“Today, after achieving all the objectives, I’m enjoying it like that three-year-old boy I was when I started. Because I know that there is less and less to go, there are fewer and fewer years that I have left,” he added.
The Inter Miami signing from 2023 had already teased that he was verging towards the end of his career – with his MLS stint to be the last of his club career.
Having stated ahead of the 2022 World Cup that it was going to be his last tournament, Messi hasn’t commented on whether he is eyeing to feature in the next edition of the tournament, which will co-hosted by USA alongside Mexico and Canada.
