VivaSync

Lionel Messi commented on his World Cup goals, retirement and the celebration against the Netherlands.

Messi gave an interview to Diario Ole and the World Cup winner spoke about winning the World Cup, Gonzalo Montiel’s penalty and his picture with the trophy. In the same interview, Messi spoke about more topics. When asked about the special atmosphere within the group:

“Yes, there was a lot of confidence because of where we came from, from two titles. Even the loss against Saudi Arabia did us well. We had too much confidence that we knew that we were going to play against whoever we played, we were going to stand equally and that we could beat anyone.

“But it made us more alert and made us realize what we were playing, that a World Cup is not as simple as it seems and that any team could complicate things for us. Today, with everything that happened and how it happened, the hit against Saudi Arabia did us good.

If he saw a team play so well for 80 minutes like they did against France in the final and if he saw Dibu’s save in the final minute:

“As a national team, I don’t remember (seeing a team play that well for 80 minutes), I believe we played a great match. It wasn’t the first match that we played that way, but to be a World Cup final and against France, it has to be that much more important.

“But it’s not something that surprises us because we knew that we were capable of that and we had done it in other matches. In many, we had played that way but it did not have the significance of a World Cup final.

“And the save by Dibu, the truth is that it was so fast that I didn’t experience it as it really was. Then came the one from Lautaro. I suffered more watching the videos than with the play. It was such a fast play out of nothing, a big kick… I don’t know… And well, it was so fast that I didn’t have time to suffer. After that, when I watched it, I realised the play.”

On why he thinks the world wanted them to be champions:

“Sincerely, I don’t know the reason. Thinking a little bit about why, I think it’s because the people saw everything I fought for to try and reach this goal. I believe that for a lot of people, it seemed unfair what I had lived with the Argentina national team. Not in terms of results but in terms of what was claimed, the journalists who killed me. And I believe that the people that love me and love to see me do well, always enjoy when I try. And thanks to God it’s many.

In terms of records, he scored in every round of a World Cup (a World Cup record)

Messi laughs “I don’t know, what do I know. It was incredible. The entire World Cup was incredible. How I lived it, how I enjoyed it. I always said in the mixed zone that I was living it a different way, that I was enjoying it much more, like what happened to me at the Copa America.

“I was more exlaxed, more calm, more confident in ourselves. Personally, I felt very good and well, what do I know, things were happening. We were so good that things came by themselves.”

How he hadn’t scored a goal in the knockout stages before:

“It’s like We used to say with my people, my family, my friends. It had to be like this, it was written, that it was the end of a movie, that it had to end with a happy ending. I once said that I was sure that God was going to give me a World Cup. And I don’t know why I felt it, but I felt it and very strongly.

“And I think the moment he chose was the best. If I had to choose another moment, I would not have chosen another. Ending like this is great.”

And at 35 years old…

“That’s why I said, that it happens towards the end is crazy. Had it happened before, it would have been good too, obviously. But then you have your entire career left. For me, my career practically ends with that and I don’t think there is a better finishing touch than that.”

The possibility of playing the Copa America, the 2026 World Cup:

“I don’t know, I have always said that for my age, it appears very difficult that I get to it. I like to play football, I love what I do and as long as I’m good and feel fit and continue to enjoy it, I’m going to do it. But it seems like a lot until the next World Cup.”

That Lionel Scaloni will keep his number 10 and if he keeps the door open:

“I’m not getting ahead of anything. But it is what I repeat and I will repeat. Due to age and time, it seems to me that it is difficult. But it depends on how my career goes. I’m going to be 36, I am going to see where my career is going, what I am going to do and it depends on many things.

What he has keep from the World Cup final:

“I kept everything from the final. The boots, the shirts. It’s all with the AFA and in March, I’ll bring everything to Barcelona where I keep my things and souvenirs.”

The history of the Topo Gigio (the celebration against the Netherlands):

“Well, it came out in the moment. I had nothing thought out. Even when we went 2-1 I said “why did I do that” because it happened. And on top of that, they drew level and everything.

“I had seen what Van Gaal said before the game and a team mate had shown it to me. And the truth is that it bothered me, it bothered me because I never disrespected anyone, coaches nor players. I never talk about anyone, much less before a game. It had bothered me because I had spoken with great respect of him. I didn’t like it and that came out at the moment.”

How the “andá pa’alla” is used in the entire world. Even Djokovic.

“I saw it, I saw it”.

If he uses it, his family, the kids?

“Yes, yes. Now the boys sometimes annoy me with it. And when something happens or they fight between themselves or argue, they use it. But the truth is that it was a tempered moment and after that happened, I didn’t like seeing myself that way. And it went viral the way it did, I didn’t think of anything. It was a heat of the moment, a very tempered match for everything that was said before, for what was said during the match and how it ended.”

ncG1vNJzZmilpaOxsK3Lm6CcnZyawLWxjZympmdiZX90e49rZmlqX6G2sLrEpWSmnaOotm67zWauqKqcmXqkwc9mnqiZnKh6s7HToqmepZWjwW6vxKWcm6qRqbawuoyvqmamlam1pr7LmqWdq18%3D