Almost two months after his arrival in France, as surprising as it is shattering, the six-fold Golden Ball Lionel Messi confided in a long interview at France Football . His success in Copa America, his departure from FC Barcelona, his arrival in Paris, but also Ligue 1, the next golden ball or his relationship with Kylian Mbappé … The Argentine star has delivered. Selected extracts.
On his success in Copa America: “Something I dreamed of for a long time”
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On July 10, Lionel Messi won his first Copa America with Argentina. © AFP / CARL DE SOUZA
The Argentine star was first asked about his title won with Argentina this summer. He who was running after a first “real” trophy in the jersey of the Albiceleste (even if he won the 2008 Olympic Games). “It was absolutely sensational to win this title. This is something that I dreamed of for a long time, entrusted the Pulga. I had been fighting for this for years. I had been very close to the goal on several occasions and finally to achieve it, in Brazil, against Brazil, it was really incredible. »
A victory over Brazil in the title final, which freed Messi from a “Thorn in the side”. “I would have kept a strange feeling deep inside me if I had finished my career without winning a title with my country, he added. I really wanted to add this beautiful chapter to my story with the selection by lifting a trophy. “
On his departure from Barcelona and his arrival in Paris: “It upset my plans”
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Lionel Messi, here at Roahzon Park on Matchday 9 of Ligue 1 against Stade Rennais. © Thomas Brégardis / Ouest-France
Everything will go very quickly for the Pulga. While he had agreed with the Barcelona management on a contract extension, everything will change when he returns from Argentina. “I thought that everything was settled and that all that was missing was my initial (on the contract). But, when I arrived in Barcelona, I was told that it was no longer possible, that I could not stay and that I had to find myself another club, because Barça did not have the means to extend me . It turned my plans upside down. “
PSG, once the announcement made by the Catalan club, will not be long in contacting the six-fold Golden Ball: “I received other proposals, but I must admit that we came to an agreement fairly quickly with PSG. Discussions began and it was not easy because everything had to be settled in a short time, practically overnight, when it was a very difficult operation to complete, given the circumstances. I was obviously seduced by the project, the ambitions of the club, the players at its disposal, the group… All these elements made it easier to quickly find an agreement. “
On his ambitions with PSG: “I would very much like to win the Champions League again”
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Lionel Messi humiliated Bayern in the Champions League semi-final in 2015 © AFP
Lionel Messi is not satisfied. From the top of his 7 Golden Balls and his shovel records, the Argentinian leprechaun still wants to win. And win the Champions League. A common goal with PSG, which is still running behind its first C1. “It’s an exciting challenge and, like I said, I want to win more titles by the end of my career. From a personal point of view, I would love to win the Champions League again, as I said when I was still at Barcelona. Because it’s a very good competition, very difficult to win, but I believe that this group of players has the weapons to win this title. “
On his relationship with Neymar and Mbappé: “We will get to know each other over time”
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In a long interview with the Team, Lionel Messi returned to his relationship with Mbappé and Neymar at PSG. © AFP
The Neymar – Messi – Mbappé trio crystallizes the critics. Deemed too offensive, not involved enough in the defensive withdrawal, this agreement between the three superstars at least has the merit of being exciting on paper … And reminds a certain “MSN” in Barcelona. “We will get to know each other over time. I have known “Ney” for a long time, we have played many matches together and we know each other well. As for Kylian, it’s only been a few training sessions and a few matches that we’ve been playing together. The more time we spend together, in the locker room and on the pitch, the better we will get to know each other and perform better. “
But on paper, doesn’t this eleven seem too unbalanced? “ Afterwards, of course, it’s clear for the three of us that we have to be the first to defend when we don’t have the ball and make sure to recover it quickly to prevent our opponent from putting us in danger, adds the Argentinian. We will therefore try to have the ball as much as possible. “
On the 2021 Golden Ball: “I don’t feel like a favorite”
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Lionel Messi won the last Ballon d’Or, in 2019. © (Photo: Franck Fife / AFP)
Absent in 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the golden ball is back this year. This Friday, October 8, France Football magazine has unveiled the list of the 30 players named at the 65th edition of the most prestigious individual trophy in football.
READ ALSO. Who are the major absentees of the 30 nominated?
If Lionel Messi is on this list, the Argentinian cannot imagine winning a seventh trophy: “No, I don’t feel like a favorite and I never liked to talk about it until the result. If that is to happen, it would be great, grandiose to win another one. This summer I won the title I was missing and it was the pinnacle. Afterwards, if I win a new Ballon d’Or, I will be very happy and very grateful, but I don’t want to think about it. »
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