Messi: 'I like Ansu Fati and I'll try to help him'

Lionel Messi celebrated his 400th league appearance with FC Barcelona this Tuesday, becoming the foreign player with the second most games played in the history of La Liga, and surpassed only by the Brazilian, Donato (415). On the same day that the game was held, FIFA.com published an interview for 'The Best' award, won by Messi on Monday in Milan.

"I am very happy to receive this award," he said, recognising how special it was for him to win the prize accompanied by his family. "But, as I always say, individual prizes are secondary to me because the team is the one who counts." 

The No.10 also spoke about Ansu Fati, who excited the fans again during the game against Villarreal on Tuesday. "I like him and I'll try to help him," he noted. "He is a fantastic player and has what it takes to succeed. But if I look through my eyes, I would like him to have a gradual participation, as happened to me when I started. It must be remembered that he is only 16 years old."

"I was helped a lot by Ronaldinho and Rijkaard. In fact, the whole team did it in their own way. Rijkaard left me out of some games and I was angry, but that's something that I can understand now that I'm older, and I am grateful to him."

On Barça's ambitions this season, Messi claimed that the goal is to win everything. "It's been four years since the last time we won the Champions League and we really want to win it again, but we know we have to go game by game too, or it won't be possible."