“I took a step by coming to America”: Messi vows not to return to play in Europe

This time, it’s definitely over. If you should never say anything about a possible (though highly unlikely) Ballon d’Or win for next season, Lionel Messi on the other hand clearly confirmed it in a lengthy interview. France Football Following his coronation on Monday, he won’t be seen in European football stadiums again.

“Thank God, I was lucky to have an extraordinary career, I won everything I dreamed of in Europe, where I played for many years. Now that I have come to America and taken a step, I don’t think I will come back to play in Europe. Of course I want to play in the Champions League or La Liga for the rest of my life. I will miss it, matches with great taste. But I enjoyed it as much as I could, so I have no regrets. »

“We mostly dominated France”

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, from the opening defeat against Saudi Arabia (“the most difficult moment”), through the electrifying contest against the nations, to a lengthy interview looking back at the World Cup – to the crowning final against the Bass and Blues with Woud Wekhorst (“Seeing me like that I admit I don’t like it”) he verbally sparred. “A thousand things went through my head… It’s hard to explain what you feel at that moment. (…) I said to myself: “It’s okay, I won everything. »

“We dominated France for the most part. (…) Even if we were crowned world champions in the end, we would have deserved to be at the end of normal time. We really had confidence in ourselves. I was convinced in my heart that no matter what, we were going to be world champions. »

He finally talks about his failed return to FC Barcelona this summer, “Offers from Barca, but also other European clubs, Saudi Arabia… But we finally chose to come to Miami. , because we feel good here (…) Friends with me, former teammates joined (Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets). So, it’s okay! »

PSG “now belongs to the past”

The last question, for form, has impressed Paris Saint-Germain, the club under which he won his last two Ballons d’Ors. “I spent two years in Paris, in which many things happened, some good and some not so good. But I have already mentioned this period many times, it now belongs to the past and I remember only the positive things: with the team, we won two championships in a row, and another in the previous season. The team was the champion. Also, I made good friends in Paris and by playing there I was able to become a world champion. »

He also mentioned his former team-mate Kylian Mbappe: “He had a good season, including a fantastic World Cup, he almost spoiled the final for us with his goals. It seems to me – as I have already said many times – he is one of the footballers who can win the award every year, because He is one of the best players in the world.