Lionel Messi spoke for more than an hour on the podcast Miro de Atrás, hosted by his former Argentina teammate Nahuel Guzmán. In a calm and honest conversation, the Argentina captain talked about his childhood, his education, the tension with Mexico, the level of MLS, and his memories of Diego Maradona.
One of the most direct moments came when Messi admitted he regrets not focusing more on school when he was young.
“I regret many things and I tell my kids the same: get a good education, study, be prepared. Not having learned English when I was young is something I regret a lot,” Messi said. He explained that during his career he has met important people but sometimes could not fully communicate because of the language barrier. “You think, how did I waste that time?” he added.
At the same time, Messi said football also teaches important values and helps build strong relationships that last for life.
He also spoke about the tension with Mexico after the 2022 World Cup. The situation began when boxer Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez criticized Messi on social media, accusing him of disrespecting Mexico’s jersey in the locker room after Argentina’s win.
Messi said the situation was misunderstood. “It was something normal in a locker room. After a match, shirts are on the floor. There was no disrespect,” he explained. Although Canelo later apologized, the topic had already spread widely online.
Looking back at that match, Messi said Argentina felt pressure after losing to Saudi Arabia in their first game.
“We were afraid of being eliminated. We talked about everything we were playing for,” Messi said. His goal against Mexico changed the mood. “After that goal, we felt free again.”
Now playing for Inter Miami CF, Messi also shared his view on MLS and Liga MX. He said MLS teams have improved a lot and are more competitive, especially when Mexican clubs travel to the United States. However, he noted that playing in Mexico, with altitude and big crowds, still gives local teams an advantage.
When asked about Diego Maradona, Messi said Maradona had an impact on every generation. He remembered meeting him for the first time on the TV show La Noche del 10 and later working with him when Maradona coached Argentina.
To close the interview, Messi spoke about enjoying life more now. “Today I enjoy my family, my kids, the small things. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” he said.
