Lionel Messi Says, He Is Now Focusing On Maintaining Top Performance And Good Form

Lionel Messi set a new record for the fastest goal of his career by scoring for Argentina 81 seconds into the first half of a friendly against Australia at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing on Thursday. He also led his team to a 2-0 victory.

Argentina will play their first international match since winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in December 2022, making this Messi’s seventh trip to China. As he won nearly every major football award, that was Messi’s 42nd trophy in his career.

Even though he turns 36 in less than ten days, many people still wonder if he will play in the United States, Canada, and Mexico World Cup in 2026.

“There is still a long time before 2026. Now I just focus on maintaining top performance and good form, in both the short and long terms,” Messi said in an interview with China Media Group (CMG) on Wednesday June 14.

In 2008, Messi represented Argentina at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. He helped Angel Di Maria score a crucial goal in the gold medal-winning final of the men’s football tournament.

“That was a very special moment for us. The Olympics is special as well. We haven’t won the gold medal for many years. I remember that Chinese fans were very passionate at that time. Many came to watch us train and warm up,” Messi said. “This time we stayed in the hotel and on the practice ground during most of the time and didn’t have much time to go to other places.”

Messi has been one of the world’s most predominant players for over 10 years because of his conceived talent as well as his positive routines in sustenance, recuperation, and training as a professional player. Even though he has accomplished a lot in his career, he still follows those routines.

“I believe it’s important for every athlete to take good care of their body,” Messi told CMG. “It’s integral for us to rest well. We have to play so many games in a season, so we need to eat well and rest well. Both are key to maintaining good form in the games.”

It has been a half year since Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar. A few players have left while certain countenances joined. Even with all of the changes, Messi wants the team to give its best effort in every game.

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Messi stated in the interview,

“It’s a historic moment for all of us to win the World Cup in Qatar,” Messi said in the interview. “We enjoy everything we have achieved, but we should also look into the future. We need to continue to do our best, maintain our best form and make the best performance in every game.”

When Messi was 13 years old, he signed with Barcelona and has since played in Europe. He decided to leave Europe after the 2022-23 season at Paris Saint-Germain and join International Miami in the North American Major Soccer League (MLS) instead of returning to Barca or Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina.

According to Messi,

“I don’t know if winning the World Cup has anything to do with me deciding to join International Miami. But we made a family decision in principle to go there. We believe in the future. We are happy and looking forward to the new destination.”

Messi, one of football’s greatest players, has a message for children in China about how important it is to have fun while playing the game.

According to what he shared with CMG,

“I think football is not only about performing well or not, but also about enjoying this beautiful sport. You realize that children make a lot of friends when they play football and enjoy themselves doing it. Skills matter in football, but what matters more is that you are playing football.”