Messi finally reveals the secret of his sadness

Argentine national team captain Lionel Messi confirmed that he felt sad that legend Diego Armando Maradona was unable to enjoy watching the "Albiceleste" team lift the World Cup in the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

The Inter Miami player said in an interview with the (ESPN) network: "I felt very sad that he could not live what we lived, because I know how he felt about the Argentine national team."

Regarding his relationship with Maradona, "La Pulga" said that contrary to what some have claimed, they both had a lot of respect for each other, and stressed that the late Argentine legend was always a symbol of football worldwide.

Messi stated: "He loved me very much and I loved him too, despite many things that were said in this regard. We both knew what we felt."

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player fondly recalled Argentina's experience in Qatar, which featured the third star on the national team's jersey and brought millions of people together to celebrate the long-awaited title at the famous obelisk on Nueve de Julio Street in Buenos Aires. "We lived the World Cup together. Beyond the result, it was an unforgettable experience," he said, adding that he enjoyed the tournament very much. Messi now faces the challenge of reclaiming the Copa America title he won in 2021 in Brazil, with the tournament set to kick off on June 20 in the United States, with Argentina the favourites to win after a fine performance in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Regarding the possibility of seeing him defend the Argentina shirt again at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Messi confirmed that he had already spoken to the coach of the under-23 team, Javier Mascherano, and informed him that he would not be part of that team, which will be seeking to win the gold medals the team had already won in 2004 and 2008, stressing that "they both understand the situation".