National team star Lionel Messi has revealed he would like to own a club once he retires from football.
In an interview with the Luzu TV streaming channel, recorded in December but aired Tuesday online, the Inter Miami and Argentina star said he leaned more towards owning and building a football club, rather than becoming a manager or coach.
“As a coach, I honestly don’t see myself. I like the idea of being a manager, but if I have to choose one of the three, I like being an owner the most,” said the Albiceleste captain.
“I’d like to have my own club … start from the bottom and be able to give opportunities to young players, to people, to help them grow and to build an important club,” said the 38-year-old, who seemed relaxed throughout the interview.
Messi, who rarely granted personal interviews, went on to speak about his family life, personality and even his taste in drinks.
In May 2025, Messi, who has yet to decide whether he will take part in the 2026 World Cup, took his first steps in that direction by joining as a partner in Deportivo LSM, a project led by his close friend Luis Suárez, which competes in the lower divisions of Uruguayan football.
Messi's family are also the founders of Leones de Rosario FC, which is based in the city of Alvear, Santa Fe Province. They currently sit in Primera C, the fourth tier of Argentina's football pyramid. The club will play its matches this year in Arroyo Seco, to the south of Rosario.
During the interview, the world champion also opened up about his relationship with his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo. Messi described himself as romantic, although not very demonstrative.
“I have a side to me where I’m weirder than hell. I really enjoy being on my own,” he said, admitting that he is “very structured.”
“I tend to bottle things up, to keep everything inside, to swallow my problems; I’ve changed a lot, but I’m still like that,” said Messi, who revealed he underwent therapy when he was playing for Barcelona.
He also spoke about how he insults himself inside his head when things do not go well: “I’ve had many bad matches where I was a disaster, or one-on-one situations, missed goals, and I’ve said everything to myself internally. I’ve given myself a proper earful!”
Messi also spoke about heartache, especially the moment when he dramatically quit the national team after losing three consecutive finals between 2014 and 2016: “I regretted it enormously because I’d watch the national team matches and it made me feel sick. Thank goodness I was able to come back.”
Asked to offer advice to youngsters across the world, Messi responded: “The best example is never to give up, to keep trying. In whatever it is. Get knocked down, get back up and try again. And if it doesn’t happen, at least you’ll know that you did everything possible to achieve your dream.”
During the conversation, the legendary playmaker also spoke about his reluctance to dance, which he only does when he is “tipsy.”
His favourite alcoholic drink is wine, which he sometimes mixes with Sprite “so it hits faster,” he joked.
– TIMES/AFP/PERFIL
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