Barcelona: Lionel Messi claims he would not trade club achievements for World Cup glory with Argentina

Messi revealed he would not ‘change anything’ about his career

Harry Latham-Coyle
Tuesday 29 October 2019 09:37 GMT
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Messi plays football on beach with British youngster

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Lionel Messi has claimed he would not “change anything” about his career.

The Barcelona forward suggested that, while he would have loved to have won the World Cup, he would not trade his achievements to be world champion.

Messi missed out in 2014 as he helped Argentina to the World Cup final, with Germany narrow 1-0 victors in Brazil.

“I would have loved to have been world champion and it was one of my biggest dreams, but I would not change anything,” Messi explained to TyC Sports.

“It’s what God gave me and it was for a reason. I cannot complain about what I have from a football and personal standpoint.

“It happened like that because God wanted it and that’s that.”

Messi will be 35 by the time the Qatar World Cup begins in 2022.

Argentina were knocked out in the Round of 16 by eventual champions France in Russia last year.

Messi has 68 goals for his country in 135 appearances.

He retired from international duty after a third consecutive final defeat at a major tournament at the Copa America Centenario in 2016, but later reversed that decision.

He has won ten La Liga titles at Barcelona, as well as helping the Catalan club to four Champions League victories.

Messi is among the favourites to win this year’s Ballon d’Or, a prize he has previously won five times, but not since 2015.

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