Ahead of returning to Miami for the team’s training camp, Messi was enjoying a period of peace and quiet. During this break before the season restarted, he sat for an in-depth interview with a renowned streaming channel. In the conversation with Camel Live, Messi spoke freely, covering topics both on and off the pitch.
Messi Reveals He Loves Reading Gossip News
“I love reading gossip news—just like my mom, she’s totally into this stuff, haha!” Messi caught the interviewer off guard right at the start. He also emphasized that he was the only one in the family with this passion, while his wife Antonela was not particularly interested: “Antonela doesn’t like it that much; it’s mainly me.”
He further explained that he kept up with such news simply to “stay in the loop”. And the source of this interest actually stemmed from his mother Celia. “I inherited this from my mom. She’s obsessed with gossip and a total ‘cholula’ (Note: Argentine slang for someone who is crazy about celebrity news and gossip). If she could, she would definitely tag along with Ángel de Brito to the show LAM!”
Of course, Messi also watched TV series and movies. In another segment of the interview, he said: “We’ve watched a lot of shows lately.” When asked about El Celoso, the hit Argentine series, he replied immediately: “It’s brilliant! We just finished watching it not long ago.”
On Social Media
When talking about the most popular streaming content these days, Messi said: “We watch everything. But sometimes it’s hard to catch live broadcasts due to the time difference… so we often watch replays, clips or short video snippets. I just watch whatever pops up on my feed. Don’t underestimate that two-hour time difference—it actually has a big impact on us. It completely disrupts our daily routine, especially since we have a very fixed schedule.”
As for social media platforms like Instagram or Twitter, Messi stated that he was fully aware that he was not only a symbol of Argentina, but also a global public figure—in fact, he was one of the most-followed people on Instagram worldwide.
“Sometimes I want to unfollow certain accounts, but I don’t dare to. Because I know once I do that, it might spark all sorts of speculation… These seemingly trivial things will end up being blown out of proportion. That’s why I’m extra cautious on social media and pay close attention to every detail. I don’t want people to talk about me focusing on irrelevant things instead of my football.”
No Football Allowed at Home?
When talking about his daily life, Messi said: “Football is a part of our home almost all day long. The kids also come to the club a lot to train with me.” When asked if he often played football with his children at home, he smiled and revealed: “Actually, we’re not really allowed to play football at home, haha!”
“They come straight to the club after school. We have training sessions on Mondays and Tuesdays, so we head over right after snack time. We don’t really have much free time on a regular basis. But whenever we get a chance, there’s definitely a football nearby. Sometimes we’ll have a little match.”
Messi also has a strong sense of order: “I don’t like it when people touch my things. Everything has to be in its fixed place—I’ve been like this since I was a kid.” What’s even more interesting is that he noticed his eldest son Thiago and youngest son Ciro had inherited this trait too: “They’re exactly like me.”
When it comes to his personality, he didn’t hold back: “To be honest, I’m actually… pretty weird. I like being alone and enjoy the quiet time by myself. With three kids running around the house, it’s lively, but sometimes it really gets a bit much for me.”
He added: “If the plan for the day gets disrupted, my whole mood will be affected.”
From “Unemotional” to Learning to Express Love
Talking about his relationship with Antonela, Messi said: “She’s actually much more romantic than me. I used to be quite cold, not good at expressing my feelings, and I didn’t like arguing either. Later, I told her once: ‘I’m not the person I used to be. Even though I don’t show it much, I sincerely hope that the people I care about are happy and blessed.’”
Habit of Keeping Things to Himself
Messi revealed that he had received psychological counseling for a while in Barcelona, but then stopped. “I’m used to bottling things up and keeping all my troubles to myself, sorting them out on my own.”
On the competitive side, he had always been his own harshest critic: “I’ve always said that I’m the toughest on myself. I know exactly when I’ve played well and when I haven’t.”
His father played a key role in his career: “Whether it’s after training or a match, the first person I want to hear from is my dad. When I was a kid, right after a game, the first thing I would ask him was: ‘Dad, how do you think I played today?’”
The Unfulfilled River Plate Dream
Messi also recalled a little-known story from his childhood: “When I was a kid, I went to try out for River Plate alone. I trained there for about ten days. They really liked me and were willing to cover all my medical expenses and let me stay in the youth team dormitory, but the condition was that I had to get a transfer clearance from Newell’s Old Boys. But when I went back to get the transfer documents, Newell’s refused to let me go. That’s how the whole thing fell through.”
Life in Miami: Low-Key, Regular, and Centered Around the Kids
Now settled in Miami, Messi was enjoying a rare sense of peace: “The pace of life here is totally different. People aren’t as crazy about football. I grew up almost entirely in Barcelona, so people there are used to seeing me around and don’t bother me too much. But here, I feel even more at ease. Our life revolves entirely around the kids—their school hours and training schedules determine the whole family’s routine.”
Returning to Rosario for the New Year: Only Visiting Family
Every year at the end of the year when he goes back to his hometown Rosario, Messi barely goes out: “I just stay at my own home, or go to my mom’s and my brothers’ houses. It’s basically just visiting relatives. The atmosphere in Rosario in January is amazing—the sunshine, the warmth, the feeling of summer… everything is so comforting.”
About the Future: No Plans to Be a Coach, Wants to Be a Club Owner
Talking about his plans after retirement, Messi made it clear: “I really can’t imagine myself being a coach. But I’m very interested in management—especially owning my own club. I want to start from scratch, give young players opportunities, and build a truly meaningful team. That’s the direction that interests me the most.”
Other Interesting Trivia
- AI Videos: “I totally don’t understand those AI-generated things, haha! But Antonela is researching them all the time.”
- Language: “It’s not that I can’t speak English; it’s mainly because I’m shy. Actually, I can communicate and make myself understood.”
- Drinking and Dancing: “I don’t like dancing unless I’ve had a few drinks. Usually, I just drink some wine, or mix wine with soda—it gets you drunk faster, haha!”
- Freestyle Football: “I used to do it when I was a kid, but now I have no interest at all. I would never show off those moves in a match.”
- Temperament: “I get really competitive on the pitch and easily lose my cool. After watching the match replays, I often think to myself, ‘Why was I so stupid?’”
- Provocative Gesture at Van Gaal: “It was a completely instinctive reaction! Later, when the Netherlands equalized the score, I wanted to kick myself… but a game is a game, and I only play to win.”
- Soft Spot for Sad Movies: “I cry when I watch movies, especially those based on true stories.”
- Zodiac Sign: “I’m a Cancer, but I don’t believe in any of that stuff at all. Antonela and her dad believe in it more, and they always compare me to him, saying we have very similar personalities.”
Any Unfinished Dreams Left?
“No, really none at all. Thank God, he has given me far more than I ever asked for or imagined. Especially winning trophies for Argentina—that’s what I’ve desired most in my life. First, winning the Copa América, I thought to myself: ‘Finally, my dream has come true.’ Then we won the Qatar World Cup… The gesture I made to my family in the stands meant: ‘Everything is perfect now.’ Whatever I achieve from now on is just an added bonus. I’m just grateful.”
