"I once imagined playing my whole life at Barça," Messi said. "I really want to go back. We miss Barcelona a lot—my kids, my wife too. We often talk about Barcelona, about the idea of going back to live there in the future."
Despite his status and achievements allowing him to carry a superstar aura, Messi has remained extremely humble within Inter Miami’s squad. The club has undergone earth-shattering changes since his arrival, and this modesty and simplicity were particularly evident when he saw that video of Barça fans—those ordinary, unfamiliar faces once again magnified his legend, and reminded him how much Barcelona misses him.
Barça fans love Messi deeply, and this affection touches his heart. He knows that time and distance might make people forget some things, but deep love never fades—it just needs a little dusting off, which is exactly what Diario Sport did this time.
Two weeks ago, he sat for an exclusive interview with Diario Sport in Miami, the conversation we present now. Then last Sunday, he did something only he could sense the timing for: Joan Laporta and the board were away at the match in Vigo, Messi made a quick trip back to Barcelona, quietly walked into Camp Nou to take photos, and these images quickly spread worldwide, stirring the hearts of countless Barça fans.
Q: How do you feel about this love from Barcelona?
Messi: "It’s overwhelming. Every message from Barcelona, everything from that era, all we went through together—it always fills me with nostalgia and moves me deeply."
Q: This feels more like a conversation than an interview. SPORT will present you with the ‘Most Beloved Player in Barça History Award’ next week, and your feelings are amplified in these memories...
Messi: "Honestly, I miss those times a lot. Maybe looking back now, I enjoy them more than I did when I was in the middle of it. Back then, every day was busy with games, preparation, the next match, the one after that—the pace was so fast I never got to truly savour it. Now, with calm, distance, and time, looking back, I feel it more deeply."
Q: Do you often revisit those moments?
Messi: "Yes, of course, because they were incredibly important. The images in that video—each is a key moment, a story, a turning point."
Q: It’s clear the fans have never forgotten you.
Messi: "I remember talking to you about this before. When I left, I felt something strange. It all happened so suddenly—because of the pandemic, because there were no fans in the stadiums those two years, and because before that, I’d dedicated almost my entire life to Barcelona—but I didn’t leave the way I’d imagined."
"I’d planned to finish my career in Europe, at Barça, then come here (to the US), like what happened later, because that was always my intended path. But the goodbye was too hasty, too complicated, too unusual."
"But I know the fans’ love will always be there. What we lived through, what we created—it’ll stay there forever."
Q: You spent an incredibly long time at Barça.
Messi: "Yes. 16 years in the first team, and from when I arrived at 12 or 13, that’s almost 20, 21 years. It’s a huge part of my life, countless memories—so that affection will never fade."
Q: Time brings new players, new hopes, new eras, but the love for you remains.
Messi: "That’s football—new people come, new stories happen, but history isn’t forgotten. It’s not just for me; it’s for all players who gave their all for Barça, who helped make the club greater."
"These people will always be remembered and cherished by the fans. That doesn’t disappear."
Q: We’ve talked about the hardest moments—what about the happiest?
Messi: "It’s hard to pick one. Thank God, I’ve been lucky enough to live so many wonderful moments. When people think of happiness, they’ll mention titles, achievements, trophies—like the first sextuple under Guardiola, or that Champions League under Luis Enrique. Those were special."
"But really, I can’t choose just ‘one’."
Q: If we look beyond trophies, what do you cherish most?
Messi: "I’d say: I cherish being part of the club, growing up there, spending the most important years of my life in Barcelona."
"I also cherish my kids being born in that city—cherish the club, the life there, the streets. I left my hometown to go there, grew up, built a family—it was more than just football."
Q: Do you still follow Barça now?
Messi: "Of course. There are several of us here in Miami (referring to Busquets, Alba), and we often talk about Barça—about games, results, everything happening at the club."
Q: In Barcelona, you said you were happy, but you didn’t say that in that Paris interview. Now you seem to have find ——more or less——true happiness?
Messi: "Paris wasn’t hell, not as bad as people thought. My family lived well there; it’s a beautiful city, and we enjoyed life there."
"But on a football level, I wasn’t happy. Not because of injuries, but because I couldn’t truly be myself in training, games, daily life—couldn’t enjoy what I love most."
"In Miami, it feels like we’re back to a life close to what we had in Castelldefels (their home during Barça days)—training ground nearby, kids’ school nearby, life simple, convenient, peaceful."
"Miami’s beautiful, but the traffic is really bad (laughs)."
Q: How have you adapted to MLS?
Messi: "We’re enjoying every day. It’s not like before, with the pressure of ‘having to win everything’. Of course we still want to win, to compete for titles, but the pressure’s different—I can relax more."
"I have more time with my family, with the kids. When I get home, I don’t just think about football; my mood isn’t determined by results. Before, sometimes losing would put me in a bad mood, affect me, but now it’s different. We’re doing well, living peacefully."
Q: At this age, you’re still a golden boot, still changing teams, still scoring like a young player... What keeps you at the top?
Messi: "Because I’ve always been this way since I was a kid. I love football, love competing. I hate losing to anyone. Every time I step on the pitch, I want to win, no matter where it is."
"Coming to Miami was a challenge too. This club is young, still growing, and our goal was to make it more competitive, closer to titles—and I think we’ve done that."
Q: What if one day you stop enjoying playing?
Messi: "When I feel my body can’t keep up, or I don’t enjoy being on the pitch anymore—that’s when it’ll end."
"But now? I’m in good shape, I’m enjoying it, and I’ll keep giving my all."
Q: How did you feel when Alba and Busquets left?
Messi: "It was very strange. Busquets and I talked about it beforehand; he was thinking it through, but Alba’s announcement was so sudden—he just said in the dressing room he was retiring, and we were completely unprepared."
"We’re not just teammates, but friends. We started this new chapter in Miami together. Seeing them stop one by one—it really shows our generation’s time is running out."
Q: The World Cup is coming. Are you still looking forward to it?
Messi: "Of course. The World Cup is always special, even more so after winning it. But I don’t want to be a burden to the team. I need to make sure I’m fit enough to truly help."
"Our season is different from Europe’s—fewer games before the World Cup—but I’ll assess myself every day. I definitely want the World Cup, because it’s football’s biggest stage."
Finally, what do you want to say to Barça fans?
Messi:"I really want to go back. We miss Barcelona so much. My wife, my kids—we often talk about going back to live there. Our house is still there; that’s where we want to return."
"I also really want to go back to the new Camp Nou once it’s built. Since I left, I’ve never been back—then the team moved to Montjuïc. Going back when the stadium’s ready, I think it’ll be incredibly moving."
"Thank you for all the love, really, thank you."
