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From Barcelona To Buenos Aires: Messi Reveals Heartfelt National Team Choice
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has revealed that he once had the opportunity to play for Spain internationally but chose to wait for Argentina, the country he always felt destined to represent.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on the Miro de atrás podcast, 39-year-old Messi reflected on a lesser-known chapter of his early years at Barcelona, when the Spanish national team showed interest in him as he progressed through La Masia.
“There was a moment when Spain showed some interest,” he said. “I’d been in Barcelona since I was very young, so it wasn’t strange. But my dream was always to play for Argentina.”
Messi left his hometown of Rosario at just 13 to join Barcelona’s academy—a move that would shape his journey to becoming one of football’s greatest icons. Despite spending his formative years in Spain and building his professional career there, his connection to Argentina never wavered.
Recalling his farewell in Rosario, Messi spoke fondly of the warm send-off from neighbors and friends.
“I was just a kid, but I remember it clearly. I had my friends, my school, everything in Rosario. Still, I was excited and looking forward to Barcelona,” he said.
“The entire neighborhood came to see us off at the airport. It was incredible, like something out of a movie. They weren’t just saying goodbye to Leo Messi—they were saying goodbye to the Messi family as a whole.”
Adjusting to life in Catalonia meant balancing football with education. Messi completed his secondary school years in Barcelona alongside other academy players.
“I finished my first through fourth years of secondary school there, with all the kids from La Masia,” he recalled.
Looking back, he admits to some regrets, especially regarding academics and learning English.
“I tell my children to make the most of opportunities because I regret not learning English when I was a kid and had the chance. Meeting famous people and thinking, ‘I wasted my time!’… as a kid, you just don’t realize it,” he lamented.
Ultimately, Messi’s choice to represent Argentina defined his international career. From the heartbreak of early Copa América finals to lifting the World Cup, his loyalty to his homeland became one of the defining pillars of his legacy.
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