More

    Soccer News: Messi reflects on the “special” triumph of the Copa America after being treated as a “failure”

    Lionel Messi reflected on his “special” triumph in Copa America after realizing a dream, having been treated as a “failure” with Argentina.

    Messi led Argentina to their first trophy in 28 years: La Albiceleste dethroned the defending champions and hosts Brazil in the Copa final in July.

    For Messi, years of heartache and near misses ended after the Argentine superstar’s captain finished second in Copa America three times (2007, 2015 and 2016) and a beaten finalist at the 2014 World Cup.

    As Argentina prepare for Thursday’s CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier match against Bolivia, six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi discussed his first senior international crown.

    “After so much suffering, lifting something with the national team was special,” Messi of Paris Saint-Germain, Argentina’s all-time top scorer and player with the most appearances, told ESPN. “There was a part of the journalists who treated me like a failure and I didn’t feel the shirt.

    “Everything I won was important, I was lucky to have won so many things in a row in my club and very quickly and the blows came later.

    “With the national team, it was one blow after another, which made him more important now. It cost a lot to get it.

    “When we won, I couldn’t believe it. I dreamed about it so much that I didn’t understand what was going on. Honestly, I have more fun now when I see the images than I did at that time. “

    Messi won 35 club record trophies at Camp Nou, including 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League titles, before resoundingly leaving Barcelona for PSG on a free transfer in 2021-22.

    “I don’t know where I would place it [Copa America triumph]. Everything I won was important, but this was the hardest, “said Messi.

    “A lot of things happened and I won very quickly in Barcelona. In the national team it was one success after another “.

    Argentina are in the midst of a streak of 21 unbeaten games – which dates back to 2019 – after Sunday’s successful clash against Brazil was abandoned following an apparent violation of coronavirus rules.

    Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina is undefeated on the road to Qatar 2022 and Messi added: “We have to start by recognizing that we are not the best in the world.

    “We weren’t the worst before and we’re not the best now.”

    Related articles

    Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Share article

    Latest articles