Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has pulled back the curtain on a defining chapter of his youth, revealing that he once turned down a formal invitation to play for the Spanish national team.
Speaking candidly on the Miro de Atrás podcast—hosted by his long-time friend and former teammate Nahuel Guzmán—the 39-year-old icon reflected on the period when his professional future was at a crossroads.
The approach came during his formative years at Barcelona, a time when he was rapidly evolving into a global phenomenon within the club’s famed academy.
Having left his home in Rosario for Catalonia as a young boy to join La Masia, the prospect of representing Spain was a logical possibility to many observers. However, for Messi, the choice was never truly in doubt.
“There was a moment when something was mentioned from Spain,” Messi recalled during the interview. “I’d been in Barcelona since I was very young, so it wasn’t strange. But my desire was always to play for Argentina.”
Despite spending the majority of his life in Spain and building his legendary career there, Messi’s heart remained firmly anchored to his homeland.
That unwavering loyalty eventually paved the way for a historic international career, culminating in the 2022 World Cup triumph that defined his legacy as the greatest to ever wear the Albiceleste shirt.