Full Text of Messi's Exclusive Interview: The Feeling of Winning the World Cup Is Indescribable; I Have Nothing More to Ask for
Lionel Messi attended the Americas Business Forum held in Miami on Wednesday and accepted an exclusive interview with Camel Live during the event.
One of the most impressive remarks was his comparison of winning the Qatar World Cup to the birth of his children: “Although the two are completely different, when I won the World Cup, I felt the same as when my children were born. This feeling is indescribable—it’s so special, so overwhelming, and no words can do it justice.”
He went on to explain the significance of the 2022 Qatar World Cup for him, adding: “To be honest, it’s hard to put that feeling into words. It’s difficult to find the right terms to describe what this championship means to me personally, my family, my teammates, and the entire country. The whole nation celebrated, and it was obvious that we had been longing to lift the trophy again after so many years. For me, it’s extremely meaningful, first and foremost because winning the World Cup is the highest achievement. After the World Cup, you have nothing more to ask for. Moreover, before that, I had already achieved everything at the club and individual levels. This was the only thing missing from my career, and this trophy put a perfect end to my entire career.”
Below is the full text of the interview:
Messi and His First Trip to Barcelona
“I went to Barcelona alone twice. At that time, I was getting familiar with the club and participating in training. To be honest, it wasn’t easy; it was a huge change for me, my parents, and my siblings. It was tough. I encountered some difficulties along the way, but I never doubted myself or backed down. I knew exactly what I wanted; I was chasing my dream.”
Messi and the Talent Bestowed by God
“I have always said that God gave me talent, and God chose me. I have been like this since I was a child—I have this talent, but later I made a lot of sacrifices. To become a professional player, you have to make great sacrifices, and that has always been my goal. As I said at the beginning, I thank God because God gave me the most precious thing.”
The Transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain
“The first transfer from Barcelona to Paris was difficult because we lived in Barcelona and had everything. Change and adaptation are never easy, but in fact, we adapted well, and the children adapted well too. But in terms of football, I wasn’t happy; I didn’t enjoy the games, and everything was completely different from what I was used to. Besides that, our family also experienced many positive things that helped us continue to grow.”
The Transfer from Paris Saint-Germain to Inter Miami
“That transfer was special because it was a decision made by our entire family. We decided to continue my career in Miami, and that means a lot to me. It’s much easier to go where you want to go. Since coming to Miami, everything has been fantastic. Living in this city is incredible, and I felt everyone’s enthusiasm from day one… It’s been so wonderful from the first day, and I’m very grateful.”
How He Deals with Failure
“I always try to draw positive things from all failures. First of all, you have to understand that failure is inevitable; this is a sport, and there are wins and losses—that’s competitive sports. Secondly, as always, my family and friends are by my side during the hardest times, and people who truly love you will always support me. This has been the case throughout my entire career.”
The Development of Football in the United States
“It’s been an amazing experience. Inter Miami has not only brought changes in this regard, but I think the entire Major League Soccer (MLS) has undergone significant overall changes. We have the opportunity to play in packed stadiums. American football is developing rapidly overall, and this is reflected in the games every week.”
Inter Miami’s New Stadium
“I went there recently, and it’s going to be amazing. I’m very excited and looking forward to playing there. We still have some time. If God willing, we will be able to play there next year.”
Messi and His Future After Retirement
“The inner peace brought by achieving everything in my career and sports career has completely changed me. In fact, my sports career has been very long and is still ongoing, and I have always had trustworthy people around me to handle everything. But recently, I have also started to pay attention to what is happening and what may happen in the future. Unfortunately, a football career also has an end… It will end one day, and I want to start thinking about what else I can do, but I’m interested in business and want to continue learning. To be honest, I don’t know anything about it; I’m just getting started.”
What He Leaves for Football
“I don’t think about it or worry about it. I know time flies, so I try to enjoy every day. Therefore, I cherish the things I didn’t know how to appreciate when I was young. I focus on enjoying the present rather than thinking about the future or what might happen. I have never considered when to retire, nor have I worried about it. I will evaluate all the achievements in my career myself. Now, I just want to continue enjoying life and continue playing.”
The 2026 World Cup
“I think, just like the 1994 World Cup held in the United States, this marks a turning point for American football. I look forward to it and believe that this World Cup will be very wonderful because the United States has strong strength in terms of organization, stadiums, and the number of fans. I think this is an important moment for American football as a whole. I have high expectations for this World Cup and believe it will be very exciting because the United States is fully prepared.”
His Side as a Father
“As a father, my experience is completely different. I am lucky to be able to accompany them to their games. I try to be with them and enjoy the games; they are passionate about football and play all day long. Being able to pass on this passion to my children is a very beautiful thing. They don’t need to play for a club; they just need to be happy.”
“Now I have time to spend with my wife and family, and I really enjoy this time. I try to make time to watch their football games and be with them as much as possible. I missed their birthdays and some gatherings before, and now I really cherish those moments I missed because of games.”
His Love for Other Sports
“I really like all sports and enjoy watching various games. Since coming to Miami, I have learned a lot about American football. Before, we always watched the Super Bowl and finals, but now we pay more attention to the regular season. In general, I watch a bit of every game.”
The Miami Messi Cup
“We decided to do something with the club to give our children the opportunity to play with children of a higher level. We want to bring some wonderful events home and also invite them to come here. I think this is a great opportunity. Football in Miami is developing rapidly; many children want to play football from an early age, and you can see them practicing everywhere. I hope this will be a great experience for the children who come to participate, especially the club’s children. I hope this event can continue to grow, leave good memories for the participants, and that the audience coming to watch can see wonderful games, because teams from all over the world, including some strong teams, will come to participate.”
