"They shouted at me that I shouldn't play for the national team. They said I wasn't Argentine" - Messi opens up about a difficult period in his caree

The love of the fans quickly turned into hatred in a short period of time.

Details: Today, legendary Argentine and Inter Miami midfielder Lionel Messi spoke to ESPN about the toughest period of his football career.

According to Leo, it was during this time that he began to truly appreciate those who genuinely love and support him:

"At Barcelona, we were winning everything, I was playing well and scoring goals, and then I'd go to the national team and the results just didn't come.

They criticized me. They said all sorts of things, like I didn't feel the jersey, that I wasn't Argentine, that I shouldn't play anymore, that I shouldn't even be there.

My family was going through very tough times. And it's in moments like these that you value even more the true love of the people who stand by your side."

Messi made his debut for the Argentina national team in 2005, and since then has played 196 matches and scored 115 goals for his country. In 2022, Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory, and in the 2020/21 and 2023/24 seasons, Leo and the national team lifted the Copa América.

Reminder: "I never chased statistics" – Lionel Messi on records