Leo Messi: 'Winning the cup was a turning point'

Leo Messi talked about his early life, his personal side, the Copa America and also took stock of Barça's season in an interview with Diario Olé. Here's a look at some of the highlights of the interview.

Early life

"At the age of four or five I was already playing with a ball, since I started walking."

“I remember the first games with Grandoli. At the age of four, I started playing at the club, and on the street all the time."

"They were missing a player on an older boys team and my grandmother told the coach to put me on."

“I played well and my grandmother took me to train the following week. And that's where it all started. "

Signing for Barça

"Making the decision to come to FC Barcelona was complicated, but at the same time quick."

"It was hard because when I arrived I couldn't play and when I started I got injured. I didn't compete for almost a year."

"I was lucky that from then on everything went very fast."

Family

"I'm lucky to be with my kids pretty much all day, taking them to school, picking them up, taking them to football training and other activities, and I love that."

"We don't go out much because we end up adapting to the children's daily lives."

Passion for football

"I like to watch different leagues and keep up to date with opponents, how to put pressure on them and where to attack."

The season

"The cup was special because of the time we are in, and we had a good year because of different results."

"It's a young team, with new people and this cup for the dressing room was a very important turning point."

Copa America

"The whole group is eager and excited to be able to play in this tournament."

"We haven't been able to get together for a long time because of Covid-19 and that makes me really want to be there again."