Leo Messi: 'I've learned to read the games better'
Leo Messi has given an interview to TyC Sports where he talked extensively about his football career. The Argentine, who recently picked up his sixth Golden Shoe, confessed that he doesn't feel like "a goal scorer" - despite being the top scorer in the history of FC Barcelona, and Argentina. He also assured that over time he has improved in certain aspects of the game: "I've learned to read the games better, at which moment and where I have to be effective and decisive, and this has been improving over time."
"I'm not a typical scorer. I like to come from deep, get the ball and create. I also like to score goals, but I don't live for that. If I spend a lot of time without touching the ball, I drift out of the game and I prefer to always be involved."
Best goal with Barça
"For me it was when I scored in Rome in the Champions League final against Manchester United. For me, goals can be beautiful and important. That one meant closing the circle with Guardiola and winning the treble in his first year, something that Barça had never achieved. That goal rounded off a spectacular match."
Relationship with Kun and Luis Suárez
"I've known Kun since age 17 and we have a spectacular relationship. Although we don't live together we have a very strong friendship. With Suárez we've known each other for the past five years and we spend all day together. The fact of living day to day so closely with someone gives us a very strong relationship."
The best moments with Argentina
"The 2014 World Cup was one of the best times for me with the national team. We had a spectacular group, we had Sabella as coach and we enjoyed the day to day. We reached the final of the World Cup which is no small thing, and right to the end we enjoyed it a lot. Because football is not all about winning. It is obvious that winning is important, but it is also the way of playing. I wouldn't change anything in my career to be world champion. I've played in the Copa América final, the World Cup final. I've been very close [to winning], but I can't complain because of everything I have and what I've achieved."
A new national team
"I think that during the Copa América this summer we grew a lot. In the friendly games, young players appeared and so the team is well reinforced. We must take advantage of the fact that the next Copa América is in Argentina."