Messi gave an exclusive interview to the Lo Del Pollo channel, where Messi talked about his life in Miami, his views on the future of the Argentina national team, and topics such as Neymar and Ronaldo. This article is the third part of the interview.
Which part of Argentina do you want to visit? This question is because you said before that you left Argentina when you were very young, you love the country, but you haven't had many opportunities to really get to know it.
This is something we've always wanted to do. To be honest, I don't have time. Now it's a little more than before, but not much more. Because we finish the season in December, but the holidays are not that long, and the children usually have to start school in early January. I go back to Rosario every time. We will use the holidays to stay there. But getting to know the whole of Argentina is something I haven't done yet. I want to see Iguazu Falls, and I also want to go to Patagonia, walk around the country with Antonela and the kids.
That would be wonderful. Although it would be difficult to arrange and require a very complicated itinerary, Argentina does have many beautiful places, and it's a pity that you haven't been able to see them. The problem is that every time you go back, you always stay in Rosario, for the holidays, with friends, you have to stay there.
Yes. I used to have holidays in June as well, at which time I would go back to Argentina for a few days, and then leave, because it was too cold.
Which is the best jersey you've ever exchanged in your career? Because if you ask any player this question, they will probably say: "I have Messi's jersey." So, whose jersey do you have? The kind that is exchanged on the field.
Exchanged on the field? To be honest, I don't remember. But I do regret not asking many of my teammates for their jerseys, and keeping them properly, such as Ronaldinho, Xavi, and Iniesta from my time at Barcelona. I finally asked Busquets for his jersey here. I should have kept Ronaldo's jersey back then as well. But at that time, I might have exchanged it with someone else. But I was just thinking, I seem to have a Zidane jersey. That was when he was still playing for Real Madrid, and I wasn't playing much yet, but I asked him for it.
Did he give it to you?
I think he did. To be honest, I'm not sure, but I think I have it. That might be the best jersey. But I still say, I regret not keeping the jerseys of many teammates I've worked with, and I also regret not keeping the jerseys of many players I've played against. Like Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Beckham, I've played against a lot of people. But in comparison, I regret not keeping the jerseys of many teammates more.
Do you have more than 100 jerseys?
I don't know, I don't think so.
They are in Barcelona, in a museum in Barcelona, right? Very beautiful, and there are your jerseys too.
Yes.
Antonela is now fully an entrepreneur. You also know that in Argentina, everyone sees every step of your family and thinks "that's great," and they are all happy for you. What do you think? Are you also going to support her behind the scenes? She will travel on business and also work with a very good jewelry brand. I don't know if I can say it, but it's really great. Will you let her bring you a bracelet by the way?
I will accompany her. When she needs to do something, I will let her do it with peace of mind. To be honest, it's hard for her to take this step. If she hadn't done it before, it's because she herself found it difficult to let go of the children, to leave them, and to not participate in their daily lives, such as picking them up from school or taking them to training. Later, she let go little by little, and I supported her from this perspective, taking care of the children.
In other words, you have to hold down the fort at home and be a househusband.
Actually, not that often, but it's totally fine. She has also slowly let go a bit and has also started to like this feeling. She can enjoy these things, which is very good. Because she does these things because she likes them, and she has slowly put her emotions into them, so it's very good.
How long have you been married?
Since 2017.
A long time, brother, that's great. This question is not in the script, but I want to ask you, did you propose at that time?
Sort of.
Your answer is a bit hesitant. Because I'm curious, where was the ring hidden at that time? There is always this question when proposing, where is the ring hidden? Didn't you find it troublesome at that time? Or was the method simpler?
It was simpler. Actually, that was something we had been talking about for a long time before, and we kept mentioning it and talking about it. In the end, it was more like saying: "Okay, that's it, let's get married." Rather than a formal proposal, it was more like that. But it was still a very short proposal process.
Last two real questions. I want to ask you, is putting you and Ronaldo together for historical comparisons, even creating opposition, just the imagination of us football fans? Or is it really part of reality? Because for a long time in the past, maybe not so much now, but before, there were always people saying "Do you support Messi or Ronaldo." Is this our own problem, or does everyone do this?
It's part of the football world, right? It's normal. He was at Real Madrid, and I was at Barca, it was the Clásico. We were both competing for team titles and individual honors. The football world will always bring these things into competition, into either/or choices. It's normal, it's something that naturally arises in the football environment, just like it happens between teams and national teams. But it's ultimately just about the competitive aspect, it's something that happened during that period. Now people also compare current players, discussing who they like more, who they like less, people will choose what they like. Later, along the way, he and I both achieved many important things, which also made this competition even bigger.
But every time you talk about each other, you have a good attitude. That is to say, the competition mostly stays on the field.
We have always said that. We don't have a very deep personal relationship because we rarely have the opportunity to meet. We only meet in games, or at some events and award ceremonies. At that time, we were always competing, seeing if he would win or I would win, and that kind of competition was always good. Now we are far apart and at different moments and stages in our lives. But that was always just about the competitive aspect. I think that's a great thing. No matter who they support, fans enjoy it very much. Everyone was very invested in experiencing that competition.
You just filmed a YPF commercial, which has also brought you closer to the Argentine people. I want to ask you, many Argentines, many children, may be able to own something related to you, such as a soccer ball. You have always had this close relationship with the entire Argentine people, and they have accompanied you throughout your career. How do you feel about this?
It is very special to be loved all over the world. Because I go to play all over the world, whether it's with the national team or the club. When I was in Barcelona or Paris before, I always received a very special kind of love. It's the same with the national team, in Argentina. Although at the beginning there were many people who questioned me, and questioned me a lot, there were also many people who supported me very much, always.
Indeed, after winning the Copa América, almost the entire country stood together. Not to mention after the World Cup. Being able to receive the love of my own country, my own people, makes everything even more special. To this day, when I see children, especially young children, or some very old people, I still have a very wonderful feeling. After a person has children, they see things differently. When I see a child, I think of my own children, so it gives me a different feeling. Being able to receive so much love from my country, from the people of my land, is indeed even more special.