The then Newell's academy player talked about his heroes, his likes and dislikes and his hopes for the future...
Those who saw Lionel Messi play when he was a young lad predicted great things for the left-footed Newell’s academy player - predictions which he would later, of course. go on to fulfil… or in most cases surpass. And at 13-years-old the young Leo Messi was already giving interviews, with answers that showed he was already different to his peers.
Almost 19 years later an interview Messi gave to Rosario-based newspaper Diario La Capital has been recovered and has gone viral in Argentina and Spain. Here are Messi’s answers…
Full Leo Messi interview
A hero: Two, my dad Jorge and my god-father Claudio.
A coach: Everyone I’ve had, because I’ve learnt something from all of them ((Gabriel, Morales, Domínguez, Vecchio and Coria).
A fitness coach: Pablo Sánchez.
A player: Two, my brother and my cousin.
A team: Newell's
A hobby: Listening to music.
A type of music: Cuarteto and Cumbia.
A TV programme: Primicias
A magazine: Pasión Rojinegra (Newell's fan magazine)
A book: The Bible.
A film: Baby's Day Out.
Other sport: Handball.
A model: Nicole Neumann.
A food: Chicken and sauce.
A subject: Spanish
A job: PE teacher
An objective: Finish secondary school.
A goal: Play in the first division.
A joy: When we were champions.
A sadness: My grandmother's death.
A hope: To play in the first division with Newell's
A memory: When my grandmother took me to play football for the first time.
A dream: To play for Argentina.
A tale to tell: When we travelled to Peru and became champions.
Humility: What a human being must never lose.
Argentinean youth teams: I'd love to play for them.
Expectations for this year: To be champions again.
Family: My dad Jorge, my mum Celia and my brothers and sisters Rodrigo, Natalia and Marisol.
Friends: I'm lucky I've got lots of good friends - if I tried to name them I'd forget someone.
What does Newell's mean in your life? Everything, absolutely everything.
football19
61
Can you Imagine those Argentines Who think Messi Doesnt Love Argentina. His goal was to play for Argentina. He rejected Spain Where he had almost all of his friends just to play For Argentina. For those Who hate him, Messi just wants to play football cause he loves it. He doesnt want To Prove Himself best. He never gave Reply To Pele, Maradona or Ronaldo when they Created Controversy regarding him. Is there Anythink other than Learning To love Football when Ronaldinho Taught you. For me He is the Reason I started watching football.
Poeadnops
51
I love two things of Messi interview that Humility should never be lost by a human and his love for his family and friends.#Legend
CrisRon7SSA
48
Answers were so cute. Respect to messi