For years, Lionel Messi left his mark on European club football, but the Argentine now plays in the USA – and has now openly admitted that it is “more relaxed” there.
In the summer, Lionel Messi closed the chapter Europe and moved with much fanfare to Major League Soccer in the USA. Already in the summer, when he announced his decision, he let it be known that he wanted to continue his life away from the great pressure to succeed that prevailed in Europe.
In sporting terms, the 36-year-old has hit the ground running in Florida, with ten goals and one assist in the Leagues Cup, two assists in the US Open Cup and one goal and two assists in four MLS matches so far – his record in Florida is impressive. Nevertheless, the world champion admits that things are more leisurely on the other side of the Atlantic.
“I want to win, I want to compete, but it’s more relaxed here,” Messi openly admitted in an interview with “OLGA en Vivo”, a Spanish-language YouTube channel. But that doesn’t mean he has no desire to play football. “I continue to enjoy playing. But now, of course, it’s something different. That’s how our decision to come here and not continue playing in Europe came about,” Messi added. “I train and play like I always have, but it’s also true that I’m older, I have thousands of games behind me, time moves on for all of us. “
Messi complains about PSG time
In the curious interview, “La Pulga” also gave unusual private insights, chatting about the daily life of his family, his friends in the Argentine national team – the father of three sons also revealed that he would still like to have a daughter.
In the social media, however, he caused a stir with comments about Paris St. Germain. He complained that he had heard “boos and whistles” at the Princes’ Park, while his French team-mate Kylian Mbappé had received “loud applause”. He also mentioned that he had been the only Argentine who had not received enough recognition from his club for winning the World Cup. But he said he understood that, after all, he had “held off” France on the way to the World Cup title. Nevertheless, Messi also stressed that he still has a good relationship with Mbappé and everyone else at PSG.
Currently, much of his focus is on Miami, whose upcoming league match against Orlando City Messi is expected to miss. “I don’t think it’s anything serious,” coach Tata Martino is quoted as saying by USA Today: “I think he’s just exhausted. “
