Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has spent his illustrious career on the receiving end of numerous shirt-swap requests.
However, the Argentine legend has revealed that he has only ever asked one player to swap shirts with him. That player was none other than France and Real Madrid icon Zinedine Zidane.
In a 2017 interview with TyC Sports, Messi explained, “I don’t ask for shirts, I usually swap them, but I asked Zidane once.” This rare moment came early in Messi’s career, a time when Zidane was already a towering figure in world football. The respect Messi holds for Zidane, a player who won the World Cup in 1998 and the prestigious Ballon d’Or that same year, is clear in his decision to make this solitary request.
Messi’s usual approach to swapping shirts is far more laid back. “If there is an Argentine, I swap it with him,” Messi said. “But unless someone asks me, I’m not asking anyone.” It is evident that Messi, throughout his career, has placed more value on playing the game than on collecting souvenirs from his rivals.
When it comes to the shirts he has accumulated over the years, Messi shared with the *Miami Herald* last year that he keeps them in his home in Barcelona, where he stores important mementos from his career. “I have them all saved in my house, in Barcelona, where I have all the important mementos of my career,” he explained.
Reflecting on the shirt-swapping tradition in football, Messi said, “I simply exchange with whoever happens to be there at that moment.” While the majority of his exchanges happen with Argentine players, Messi has also swapped shirts with several notable players in Europe. “I have had a chance to play against teams that had Argentine players, and generally we swap shirts, but I also exchanged shirts with players in Europe – players who I knew from before… it’s always nice to change shirts with friends or players I know,” he added.
Messi’s admiration for Zidane is understandable given the Frenchman’s incredible career. Zidane’s playing days were marked by success at both the club and international levels. He won league titles in Italy with Juventus and in Spain with Real Madrid, and his crowning achievement came in 1998 when he led France to a World Cup victory, scoring twice in the final. Zidane’s legacy as one of the most graceful and skillful midfielders in the game made him a natural role model for young players like Messi.
While Messi’s on-pitch achievements have set records and garnered praise worldwide, his admiration for Zidane highlights the mutual respect that exists among football’s greatest talents. As of today, Messi stands alone with eight Ballon d’Or titles to his name, surpassing every player, including his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi’s career has seen him continue to break records. Recently, he made Major League Soccer (MLS) history in his first match back for Inter Miami after recovering from an ankle injury. During the game against Philadelphia Union, Messi scored twice and provided an assist, helping his team secure a 3-1 victory at Chase Stadium. This performance also made him the fastest player in MLS history to reach 15 goals and 15 assists, achieving the milestone in just 19 matches.