Lionel Messi, the forward of MLS club Inter Miami and captain of the Argentine national football team, reminisced about working under the guidance of Spanish coach Pep Guardiola at Barcelona.
The 37-year-old Argentine, a graduate of La Masia academy, played for the Blaugrana from 2003 to 2021, winning ten Spanish championships, the Copa del Rey seven times, and triumphing in the UEFA Champions League four times. Guardiola, now coaching English club Manchester City, worked with the Catalans from 2007 to 2012, leading the team to three La Liga titles and two Champions League victories.
Messi was quoted as saying by AS:
I didn't pay much attention to tactics, but with Guardiola, I believe I learned a lot. He taught me about tactics, spaces, and ball possession.
In the 2024 season, Messi played 12 MLS matches, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists. His contract with Inter Miami, and the four-time Ballon d'Or winner, expires at the end of December 2025, and his market value is estimated at 30 million euros according to Transfermarkt data.
During the same interview, Messi mentioned that he started playing football at around three to four years old. On June 21, the forward declared that the 2024 Copa America, in which he is participating with the Argentine national team, will be his final one in his career.