Lionel Messi has revealed that he was invited to join the Spain national team but ultimately decided to represent Argentina. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner currently plays for Inter Miami and shared this during a recent appearance on the Miro De Atras podcast. He explained that Spain’s proposal came during his early career stages at Barcelona, a time when many young players face choices about their international futures after moving to European clubs.
Despite Barcelona’s influence and the opportunity to play for Spain, Messi emphasized that his loyalty was with Argentina. He said,
“Well, there was a moment where it came up. I was already playing for Barça, and they kind of hinted at it, they suggested it… which is normal, right? It happens with many kids. At that time, even though I’m Argentinian, I had moved to Barcelona very young and had done most of my training in their youth system, so the possibility was there. It could have happened. But no, well… I always…My heart was always with Argentina.”
Messi’s Early Struggles with Argentina and Ultimate Triumph
At first, Messi’s commitment to Argentina seemed to bring more challenges than success. He endured painful defeats in several major finals, including the 2014 World Cup and consecutive Copa América finals, leading some to question his choice. Yet, his perseverance paid off as he cemented his legacy, becoming Argentina’s most capped player and all-time top scorer. His career has been marked by remarkable victories at the international level, culminating in winning every major title he pursued with the national team.
Consistently Strong Bonds Within the Argentina Squad
Messi also reflected on the team dynamics within Argentina’s national squad, emphasizing that the groups he played with were always united and supportive. He referred specifically to the 2014 team coached by Alejandro Sabella, highlighting the strong camaraderie despite their narrow loss in the World Cup final. He said,
“At the national team level, we always had good groups. In the 2014 team under coach Sabella, the group was fantastic. I always compare and enjoy things in the same way, even though we lost the World Cup final. We were unlucky. We couldn’t become world champions, but we reached the final. After that, we also reached two Copa América finals. And then in the Russia process, although the situation and the results complicated everything much more, the group was still good and we got along very well.”
He added,
“The thing is, now that we are winning, obviously, it makes people think or believe that the group is different, but the reality is that the national team has always been a spectacular group and I enjoyed it a lot and I liked being on the national team because I enjoyed those moments and well, that for me is always the fundamental thing.”
Looking Ahead to Messi’s International Future
Following his pivotal role in leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title, the upcoming 2026 tournament is widely anticipated to be Messi’s final appearance on the international stage, as he will be 38 years old by then. However, he has yet to officially confirm his participation in the event, leaving fans and analysts uncertain about his future with the national team. Messi’s choice to stay with Argentina over Spain remains a defining decision in his remarkable career, symbolizing his enduring connection to his homeland despite early European influences.
