37-year-old superstar Lionel Messi admits he is lucky to have won all the biggest titles in his football career.
At the national team level, Messi owns the U20 World Cup, Olympic gold medal, Copa America (twice) and World Cup. He also has all the biggest titles at club level, with four Champions League, 10 La Liga, two Ligue 1, in addition to a record eight Golden Balls and six European Golden Shoes.
“It’s valuable to win everything in football,” Messi told the Simplemente Futbol YouTube channel on April 18. “As I said, I was lucky enough to have everything with Barca and the Argentina national team. I will appreciate it more over time. I am very grateful that God has given me everything.”
Messi began to make his name at Barca in 2005, when he was only 17. In the 2005-2006 season, on the way to winning his first Champions League, he shone to help Barca eliminate Chelsea. According to Messi, that was an important stepping stone and he is grateful to his seniors at that time, including Ronaldinho, Deco, Carles Puyol, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, along with coach Frank Rijkaard.
Working with Pep Guardiola since 2008, Messi has taken his game to the next level. He has won two Champions Leagues, three La Ligas and four Ballons d’Or in four years, while scoring between 30 and 70 goals per season. Messi currently holds the record for scoring 73 goals in 2011-12 and 91 in 2012.
“Pep Guardiola is like a different world,” Messi said. “He changed football. At that time, everyone wanted to copy us. In fact, in a way, he damaged football because every club tried to play like Barca. But we are a special club, with midfield Xavi, Busi, Iniesta, everything is perfect between the players and the coach.”
In 2021, Barca President Joan Laporta unexpectedly refused to renew Messi’s contract, citing the club’s financial difficulties. The Argentine striker then moved to PSG for two years, then joined Inter Miami now. Messi said he wanted to return to Barca after the 2022 World Cup, but failed. “The decision to come to America was entirely for the family. We came here to experience new things,” Messi said.
Messi’s contract with Inter Miami expires at the end of 2025. An extension or a move to a new club could affect preparations for the World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada in June 2026. “This year will be an important year for decisions related to the World Cup. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about it,” Messi added.
Messi celebrates scoring in the Inter Miami 3-1 Los Angeles FC match in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals on April 9. Photo: Inter Miami
Messi celebrates his goal as Inter Miami defeated Los Angeles FC 3-1 in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals on April 9. Photo: Inter Miami
20 years after Messi made his Barca debut, Lamine Yamal is on his way to rewriting his predecessor’s success. The 17-year-old striker has matured even earlier, winning Euro 2024 with Spain, scoring 14 goals and providing 21 assists in 45 games in the 2024-2025 season.
Messi believes Yamal is one of the best players in the world today with incredible qualities. “What he does is impressive. He is only 17 years old, still developing, and will continue to bring many things like I did,” he commented.
