Messi, on his earliest memories playing football, his first matches as a kid, etc: “Even before , when I was 4/5 years old, I used to play with a ball - right from the time I started walking. Yes, I remember my first games at Grandoli [in Rosario] being on the field..” #FCB ⚽️
“I have older brothers and cousins, and we always got together to play. I don’t exactly remember the first time I played played with a ball, but I know I’ve been playing since I was very little. And when I was 4, I started playing at a club, and on a street, all the time” #FCB ⚽️
“One of my brothers or cousins were playing and we used to go there everyday because we are of different ages and categories. The ‘86 team, a year older than me, was playing and they needed a player — so my grandmother told the coach ‘put him [Leo] in the team” #FCB ⚽️
“No, how am I going to put him in the team, look how small he is, you’re crazy, he’s going to get hurt”, the coach said. But she [Leo’s grandmother] kept saying “put him, put him” #FCB ⚽️
“Apparently when I went, I did some things and from then, my grandmother came back and told him [the coach] ‘Buy him football boots, I’ll take him to training next week’ - and that’s when I started. It was an amazing time” #FCB ⚽️
Messi, on whether he remembers his first ever goal: “I remember, from what I’ve seen in the videos we have, it was in a special neighborhood championship. And then, when I was at Newell’s, in some of these important tournaments I played” #FCB ⚽️
“Maybe if I see the moment, the videos and all that, I’ll remember. But I don’t exactly remember much from when I was a kid” #FCB
Messi, on his memories in the matches in Rosario: “I remember the matches, used to play with my friends, playing ball all the time. I wasn’t allowed to play with older kids because I was too young” #FCB ⚽️
Messi, on not being allowed to play with older kids: “It was more out of care or out of fear that I might get hurt rather than letting me play or not” #FCB
Messi, on playing with a mask: “At the time, I was in the Cadetes [young team]. I was 14 or 15 I think and one weekend in a match against Espanyol, I was elbowed and my cheekbone was fractured” #FCB 
Messi, on the treatment for his height to grow: “It was for a little bit of everything, not just for football. It was a resource that was going to help in my everyday life and not only as a football player..” #FCB
“In that sense, I’m very responsible. When I set my mind to do something, I try to take it to the maximum, to achieve all my goals and fight. Thiago knows about the treatment, but I’ve never thought that he or any of my other children would have to do the same treatment” #FCB
Messi, on switching from Rosario to Barcelona: “Making that decision was difficult but quick at the same time. I didn’t even hesitate, did it without thinking. Didn’t really understand what it meant to leave my country, my people, my friends and start another life elsewhere” #FCB
“At first it was hard because when I arrived, I couldn’t play due to paperwork issues and then when I started playing, I got injured and then I almost went a year without being able to complete. I could only train, which wasn’t the same..” #FCB
“Then I was lucky, because from that moment on, everything moved forward very quickly. I progressed very fast. I started climbing positions and playing with other guys. And I kept seeing that I was closer, that it was possible, so I wanted to be here to try and keep fighting”
Messi, on how he felt in those vacation trips from Rosario to Barcelona: “Always crying, not wanting to stay but wanting to stay at the same time. I wanted to come back to Barcelona to continue to do what I was doing but..” #FCB ✈️
“At the same time, it was hard to leave everything I had in Rosario. I knew I could go there again in 6 months. I’ve lost many friendships since it was very difficult to communicate. Today, any 13-14 year old can walk around with a phone but it wasn’t like that at the time” #FCB
Messi, on whether he still has some friends from his childhood: “Yes, I still have some friends from my neighborhood, with whom we were able to maintain our relationship - who keep in touch on a regular basis. Even maintained with those who played football with me..” #FCB 🤝
“With others, I’ve reestablished the bonds I had with them and started communicating after many years. It’s also nice to meet people after a while” #FCB 🤝
Messi: “My childhood in Argentina was amazing. It was a different time too, life was different, kids over there lived in different ways, things were different from today and I really enjoyed those days very much” #FCB 🇦🇷
Messi, about his family: “I’m lucky to be able to share a lot with them because there are many parents who have to work all day long and they don’t get home until late in the evening, as it happened to mine, working all day and arriving exhausted at 9 in the night..” #FCB
“I’m lucky enough to be with my sons practically with them all day long, to be able to take them to school, pick them up, take them to football practice & other activities. Although sometimes you get angry with them. Waking them up, taking them to school, etc - I love that” #FCB
Messi, on whether he goes out with Antonella a lot: “Actually, we don’t go out much. It’s more because of the daily life of our kids. We have 3 children and in the end, you end up adapting to their routine. They do some activity after school, we pick them up” #FCB
Messi, on his relationship with the parents of his children’s friends: “I’m very lucky because the group of parents are great. We started with Thiago’s, who was the first one to go to school and make friends - and he has a nice group and so do the parents..” #FCB
“It’s normal now, seeing each other and getting together & I’m just one more [parent]” #FCB
Messi: “Is it difficult to be Messi? Sometimes you want to go unnoticed or just want to do normal things and going to places where there are loads of people or in a shopping mall, that’s more complicated - but it’s not about being recognized and all the photos..” #FCB
“Sometimes you’re not having a good day. And you go crazy because you don’t want to run into anyone. Maybe people ask you for a photo or an autograph, but sometimes you may not be in the mood. That happens a lot..” #FCB
“Few times when you’re not in a good mood but the person, who asks you for a photo, expects you to smile more. Maybe they tell you to smile and sometimes you’re just not in the mood. These are the things I have to live with, but I don’t complain..” #FCB
Messi: “Obviously there are times when you want to go unnoticed but, at the same time, it’s beautiful when people recognize you and say nice things. I’m lucky that wherever I go, I get recognition, a nice word from someone or a picture request - that’s also nice” #FCB
Messi, on his conversations with friends: “We talk about everything, just the usual like in any friendship. We speak about football and also about life, about the problems in countries because of the virus, about what happens in different parts of the world - normal things” #FCB
Messi, on how the problems of his friends affect him: “Badly, obviously, and even more so when they are people who you love - your friends. But I don’t like what’s happening, not only with my friends - but everywhere else..” #FCB
“There’s a lot of poverty, especially for us who come from a country where many people have a hard time. I know about it and can see it. I’ve not always been in the position as I am today. But it’s difficult to say an opinion on this, because...” #FCB
“People may say ‘you talk about it but don’t know what it’s like’, it’s not easy and I know. I’m aware of everything that happens in Argentina and Spain, which is the country where I live, and I don’t like what I see. It is painful for me just as for those living it” #FCB
Messi: “I didn’t lack anything because my dad worked all day long & maybe he wasn’t there to make sure we didn’t lack anything - he worked overtime & worked more and more. I had friends who lived near a slum with no food, electricity or water, I could see it first hand” #FCB 🇦🇷
Messi: “How was I as a student? I didn’t like studying and it was hard for me, but I was well behaved” #FCB 📚
Messi: “How am I as a cook? I can get by in the kitchen, but I’m not much of a barbecue cook. I prefer to share the moment” #FCB 🥘
Messi: “The beard? I was with Gillette and they asked me to shave as much as possible - so I had been shaving it for a long time. But when that ended, I decided to stop and just keep it. When it [the beard] starts bothering me a bit, I get it cut” #FCB ✂️
Messi, on his clothing fashion: “Antonella chooses it for me. I’m not much of that. I don’t have anything special and neither do I care much, just casual” #FCB 👕
Messi, on barbecues: “My dad is generally the one in charge for it when we’re all together during the holidays” #FCB 🍗
Messi: “Like everyone else, I use my phone a lot - all the time and sometimes too much. In some cases you don’t realize you’re just fooling around on your phone and not doing anything & then one thing leads to another. But that’s what most of us do today” #FCB 📲
Messi, on whether he watches a lot of football in general: “I do watch it quite a lot. I like watching other leagues and just being up to date” #FCB ⚽️
Messi, regarding tactics: “I like to study the opponents, how to press, where to affect them even though we have coaches or own people. I also like to watch and see” #FCB
Messi, on next month’s Copa America: “The whole team is looking forward to it, they’re excited to play. It’s been a while since we played. It’s a special cup, it’s different because there will be no fans here - but even so, personally, I’m really looking forward to it” #AFA 🔵
Messi, on how most players from his team were going up to him for a picture after winning the CDR: “That was beautiful to see, so many players rising from the bottom. I’ve felt the same way taking a picture with older ones. It was a beautiful moment in every sense” #FCB 🤝
Messi, about his hidden passions: “Nothing special really. I like playing paddle and watching some tennis” #FCB 🎾
Messi: “We [him and his family] like dogs a lot. Ciro loves Hulk. The first thing he does after waking up and also before going to bed is to be with Hulk. Antonella and Ciro are probably the biggest dog lovers [among us], but I like dogs too” #FCB 🐕
Messi: “I started to like jerseys or souvenirs when I got older, I didn’t pay attention to that before. I regret not asking the shirts from players I’ve faced when I was just a kid and starting out - like Ronaldo’s [R9] or Roberto Carlos. I would’ve liked those shirts” #FCB 👕
Messi, on how players ask for his jersey: “It happens a lot. I always exchange jersey’s, other than the times I’m angry and just leave the stadium straight away” #FCB 👕
Messi, on being an Argentina reference in the world: “It’s very crazy and at the same time, it is beautiful to be able to go anywhere and get treated wonderfully wherever I go. It is very nice” #FCB 🇦🇷
Messi, on the time he arrived in Saudi Arabia and a rifle was being pointed towards him: “That was the guy, it was unintentional. It was very scary. He didn’t even realize he was doing that” #FCB 🇸🇦
Messi’s message to Argentine people: “I’m grateful for the way they’ve always treated me. I know that Argentine people love me a lot, despite how we’ve gone through many difficult years. I know things are tough because of the virus. Let’s hope we can move forward” #FCB 🇦🇷❤️
Interview over.
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