By Miguel Rapetti
30 Oct 2023, 10:32 PM EDT
The Argentine from Inter Miami, Lionel Messi, won his eighth Ballon d’Or this Monday and after the gala he had a meeting with the media in which he thanked everyone who has intervened during his career, especially FC Barcelona, which he classified as the best team of all time.
Although Messi left FC Barcelona more than two years ago, he does not forget that he spent almost his entire career there and that is why he did not hide praise, of which he also praised Pep Guardiola as the best technical director in history.
“I follow Barcelona, I always did and I will continue to do so. It is the club that I love and will love all my life. They have a great team, great players, a mix of young people and veterans. “I think he is prepared to fight for the Champions League and I am sure that he will rise from the defeat in the Classic,” he assured.
He later referred to those who consider him the best footballer in history, expressing that it is something that does not interest him and that it is a gift to be on the list of the best.
“I don’t know if I’m the best in history. I’m not interested. The fact that it is said that I am among the best for me is already a gift, something very special. Everyone plays soccer, since they are children everyone wants to be professionals, being told that I can be among the best is a great source of pride,” he said after winning the eighth award.
After many Ballon d’Ors won thanks to Barcelona, he indicated that the last two were for the national team, for the 2021 Copa América and for last year’s World Cup.
“All Ballon d’Or awards are special, they respond to different types of situations. I was lucky to win many at Barcelona, I achieved everything at the club level, and the last two come from the national team, which was something that was denied to me, so they are very special, this one even more so because it comes from the of the World Cup with what it means for a player and especially for an Argentine who had not achieved it for so long,” he indicated.
Messi did not rule out returning to Barcelona one day, although he does not see himself as a coach, but he carries that city in his heart and would like to give back some of what it gave him, closing with the fact that he hopes to have a farewell match in the future to close with a bang. I love the relationship between the two.
“I would love to be able to say goodbye to people, I had a strange feeling when I left and that it is not good with everything we shared together, that we did not end in the right way, I deserve to say goodbye to the people with whom we shared so many joys and sorrows . If it happens, I would be delighted to be there,” she concluded.