Lionel Messi, the Argentine football superstar, believes his exceptional talent is a divine gift. He shared this sentiment in a recent interview, admitting that “God chose me” to be special.
Messi, who began his football journey in Rosario, Argentina, never imagined achieving such legendary status. At just 13, he left Argentina for Barcelona, and today, he is an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and the most decorated player in history with 44 trophies.
Reflecting on his career, Messi told Juan Pablo Varsky, “It’s very clear to me that I was born like this because God chose me. It was a gift he gave me. I tried to take advantage of it, I did everything possible to squeeze the most out of it. The truth is, although I did many things, I did nothing to become the player that I already was when I was little.”
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Messi’s potential was evident early in his youth at Newell’s Old Boys.
He recalled, “From what was being said, I was always different. People came to watch me. I didn’t realise it, but I began to understand that as I grew older. I don’t really know the moment when I realised it. When I was 3 or 4 years old, I was not aware of the World Cup and all the titles that were being played. I simply played because I loved the ball… it was my hobby. I spent all the time kicking [the ball] and looking for someone to play with. I was born with it. I loved soccer, like most Argentines, from a very young age. I always tried to have fun, like I did from day one.”
After a groundbreaking career at Barcelona, Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. He now plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), enticed to the United States by Manchester United and England legend David Beckham. Messi is also aiming for another Copa America title with Argentina.