The Portuguese striker revealed that Messi is not only a football genius but also a true leader, someone who always sets an example through actions instead of words. Among them, Messi’s impressive kiss has left Trincao with a lasting memory.
Messi and the special greeting culture
Joining Barcelona in the summer of 2020 from Braga, Francisco Trincao had many opportunities to play with Messi, the number one legend in the club’s history. Although he only played alongside “El Pulga” for one season, the player born in 1999 had special memories of this great captain. One of the things that impressed Trincao the most was Messi’s friendly greeting.
“At first there was something I found a bit strange, but then I understood that it was the culture of the Argentines and Uruguayans. They often greet each other with a kiss. When I first came to Barca, Messi greeted me with a kiss when he entered the gym. I was a bit shy the first two weeks, but then I got used to it,” Trincao confided. This shows the friendliness and closeness of this star towards his teammates, even with the young players who have just joined the team, especially Messi’s impressive kiss.
Trincao also shared how Messi plays a leadership role at Barcelona. Unlike captains who often shout on the field, Messi chooses to lead by example rather than talk a lot. “He is very calm, he doesn’t need to say much but still has a big influence. Messi helps us on the field, shows us where to stand, how to move. When he speaks, you listen, because you know for sure that what he says is correct. Messi knows the game very well,” Trincao recalled.
Trincao’s words are not too surprising. Throughout his career, Messi has always been known for his humility and high team spirit. He does not need to show his authority but still earns the respect of all his teammates. That is also the reason why Messi is always admired and learned from by young players whenever they have the opportunity to play with him.
Messi – a monument for young players to learn from
Trincao joined Barcelona in the summer of 2020 for €31 million from SC Braga. At that time, he was considered one of the brightest young talents in Portuguese football, possessing speed, skillful technique and impressive dribbling ability. Under coach Ronald Koeman, Trincao made a total of 42 appearances in all competitions, scoring 3 goals and having some memorable moments.
However, with fierce competition in Barca’s attack, he could not win a regular starting position. And after Messi left in the summer of 2021, Trincao also left Barcelona to join Wolverhampton on loan, before returning to Portugal to play for Sporting Lisbon in 2022.
Despite leaving Barcelona in 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain and now playing for Inter Miami, Messi’s influence at Camp Nou is still huge. Not only has he left a legacy with a series of titles and records, Messi is also an ideal role model for young players thanks to his professionalism and dedication to football.
Even players who only played with Messi for one season, like Trincao, have left a lasting impression of the legendary captain. This proves once again that Messi is not only great on the field but also has a huge impact on his teammates, both on and off the field.
Francisco Trincao’s sharing is a true perspective on Messi – a leader who doesn’t need too many words but still makes everyone respect him absolutely. The image of Messi greeting his teammates with a kiss also partly shows his friendliness and closeness in the locker room.
With what he has shown throughout his career, Messi is not only a football genius but also an inspiration for the next generation of players. And even though he no longer plays for Barcelona, his mark at the Catalan club will forever be in the hearts of those who played with him, as Trincao shared.
