By his high standards, Lionel Messi has had a difficult time of it recently. The goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina was a small step towards the realisation of what he describes as “the dream.”
In this interview, Messi speaks about his ambitions with Argentina at the World Cup, his heroes, and what it’s like being regarded as the best player in the world.
Excerpts:
You’re often identified more with Barcelona than Argentina. Would you like to change that?
Yes. I want to win for Argentina. I love my club football and I love Barcelona, which has been my home since I was 12, but I have always felt strongly loyal to my country. I’ve never stopped being Argentine, and I’ve never wanted to. I feel very proud of it. I want to be as successful for my country as I am for my club.
How much would it mean to win for Argentina on Brazilian soil?
I’d be lying if I said that it wouldn’t be very special. Brazil against Argentina in the final at the Maracana? That would be some dream, wouldn’t it? You can only imagine how much the people back home in Argentina would love it if we could beat Brazil — it would be talked about forever. I know the passion of our people, and they have just as much love for football as the Brazilians do, it is fantastic. We should have a lot of fans in Brazil, too, so hopefully our games can feel like home matches, even though they aren’t.
Who did you enjoy watching as a boy in the World Cup, do you have any vivid memories from past tournaments?
I always admired Pablo Aimar, he came from River and I followed him a lot, he was my favourite. To have played with him is something very special for me. I was very young, but I remember watching Diego Maradona in the 1994 World Cup. And when I was a little older, Zidane for France, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo for Brazil. They are all superb players, ones that you can learn from as a young player.
How has your style of play changed? Are you the same Messi as you were playing on the streets as a kid?
My style has pretty much stayed the same, I have played this way since I was a young boy. I have learned a lot and have evolved wherever I have been, and there was more technical work and ball work when I came to Spain from Argentina, but I have always tried to express myself in the same way. I have learned tactically too, but when it’s just me and the ball, that’s when I’m happiest — attacking.
You’re being hailed as the best in the world at 26. How much better can you get over the next five years?
I don’t think about trying to be the best. Judge me when I retire, I think. I always look forward, the things that have been won already are in the past. On to the next challenge. But, every single day, I try to improve myself. You can always improve parts of your game. 100% perfect is not possible. Helping your team to win is always the most crucial thing. People mention my goals a lot but that is secondary to winning games and winning competitions. My motivation is to wake up every day happy, to be professional, but to have fun.
Is the Golden Boot something you’d like to add to your trophy cabinet?
Of course! I like to score goals, and if I could get the Golden Boot, it would be something very special for me. But, more importantly, it would mean that Argentina is doing well. The team of the Golden Boot winner usually makes it to the semifinals or further, and that is what we want. But I would happily not score any goals and swap that for a World Cup!
How do you prepare for a World Cup match? Is there a different way of approaching games?
It is not different. I address it like I would for any match. Whether it’s the World Cup, Champions League, Copa del Rey, I prepare for all games the same way.
Every game needs to be treated as a final, as the most important game of your career.
How do you manage your time away from football?
I try not to change my lifestyle, I just want to be a normal guy.
I am a normal guy, I just play football, that’s all. With my family and friends, I’m just Leo. That’s the way to keep your feet on the ground. I like to listen to music, to watch some TV, talk to friends. It is the best way to stay rested and be fresh for each game.
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