Leo Messi has just won his seventh Ballon d’Or and has given an interview for the magazine France Football in which he has been sincere and where we have probably seen the most unknown and personal side of the Argentine star.
The player began by talking about his first steps and his hormonal deficit that caused him growth problems: “I remember that I spent two hours exams with my mother. When I saw that I had the problem, it did not shock me in particular. I do not know if it is because I was small or did not know what it meant. Then they explained to me the treatment in which I had to give myself injections every day: one at night in one leg, the next day in the other. It never hurt me in being what I am now. It did not compromise my career, because I was able to do everything I wanted to do. Once I started doing the treatment, it became part of my life. “
“I was following the treatment, but it was very expensive for my family. Newell’s told us that they would help us, but they did not give us money for the treatment. It was complicated, so the possibility of going to Barcelona appeared. I remember very well when we left, there were goodbyes in the neighborhood, it was a very hard moment, although it was what I wanted and it was in my head, “he continued.
“I never thought of going back, although it was not easy to adapt. I lived through a very difficult first year. The first months, I could not play because the roles of my transfer did not arrive. When I returned to play, I injured my tibia and I was three months without play. My family separated because I lived difficult moments. But I never probed to return to Argentina. On the contrary, the more time passed and the better I felt, I was more convinced of my dream: to be a professional player, “he added.
After signing for PSG, Neymar offered to wear the number 10 but the Argentine refused the offer and instead wears the number 30. Now he has explained why he made that decision: “The 10 was for him. I joined a new team to help. It was an extraordinary gesture on his part. I expected it because I know Neymar. We spent time at Barcelona and we are friends. It seemed fairer for him to keep the number 10. That is why I took one that I liked. “
On being considered the best player in history, Messi takes it with the same humility as always: “I never said that I am the best in history nor do I try to get that idea. For me, being considered one of the best in history is more That’s enough. It’s something that I would never have imagined. It’s something that doesn’t interest me, it doesn’t change anything to be considered the best or not. And I never wanted to be. “
In addition, he spoke about the comparison with Maradona: “Honestly I have never compared myself to Diego, absolutely never. I never paid attention to those comparisons. Some criticisms bothered me in the past. I had bad times in the national team but not for these reasons. Often things that annoy me from criticism, but they stay in the locker room. They should stay there, in private. It is intimacy that makes the group strong, in addition to the fact that we can get pissed off and say things to our faces. can improve”.
One of his most remembered goals, among the many he has scored, was the hat he made to Almunia in 2011: “It is difficult to imagine this goal on a day-to-day basis. It is not an action like the others that comes often. . I train and try to improve every day, but these situations occur naturally. I have never changed my way of playing since I was little. Some gestures come spontaneously, depending on the circumstances. That day I felt that that was the way to score the goal. ” .
There is also his header goal against Manchester United in the Champions League final: “It is a specific situation. At that time the situation developed like this. Xavi crossed because he knew how tall he was and was able to put his head. I saw him do in training and we talked about it in the locker room. Neither he nor I thought he could score with his head. It was a special goal, without, however, having sought it. It came naturally, it was extraordinary. “
Messi’s career has had many episodes, and those that remain, and there is something in particular that he regrets, not having gone out to celebrate the 2006 Champions League by not playing that game: “I’m sorry I did. I didn’t realize what was happening. At that moment I was thinking about the fact that I had not played. At least I would have liked to be on the bench that night. Until my injury I participated in the Champions League career. I deeply regret that episode. We won that Champions League and I wasn’t sure it would happen again because it’s a tough competition to win. Then luckily I had a chance to enjoy it. “
The rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo has marked the last decade and will go down in history as one of the most remembered of this sport: “I always wanted to surpass myself and not watch what others did. With Cristiano we maintained the competition during the same championship during years. It has been wonderful and it has helped us to grow in our careers. But without looking at each other. I just wanted to surpass myself to be the best and not better than the other. “
As for his more personal side, they asked him if it was easy to be Messi’s teammate: “You should ask the others. I don’t know if it’s easy or not. Those who know me know who I am, and those who don’t know me do so recently. It may be that for young people it is more difficult regarding the image they have of me, but once they get to know me they relax “.
Finally he commented on what it means and what it means to be Leo Messi: “I have been Messi for 34 years, so I am starting to get used to it. I am happy with everything that has happened, although sometimes I have to admit that I would like to go unnoticed, enjoy my family without people recognizing me. I do not complain, on the contrary, it is always nice to receive a compliment, a smile or someone who asks me for a photo. I am used to it and for me it has become normal. So very good “, he concluded .
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