God chose me to be the greatest — Lionel Messi opens up on career, talent and sacrifices

Lionel Messi offered a humble and profound reflection on his extraordinary football talent, stating he believes he was "chosen by God" to play the sport.

Messi's career has shattered records and redefined the limits of football, leading Barcelona to multiple Champions League and league titles, and famously securing both the World Cup and Copa América with Argentina.

On a personal level, he holds a record eight Ballon d’Or awards and multiple Golden Boots. Even as a teenager, Messi was touted as one of the best talents on Earth before he even made his senior Barcelona debut, known for weaving through defenders with ease.

Speaking about his innate ability, Messi credited his gift to a higher power while emphasizing the dedication required to maximize it (via AlbicelesteTalk):

“I’ve always said that God gave me a gift, that he chose me. Since I was little, I’ve always been that way. I had it, but along the way, I made many sacrifices.

"He stressed that even divine talent requires immense commitment to reach the pinnacle of the sport:

“To become a professional, you have to make huge sacrifices, and I always had that as my goal. As I said at the beginning, I’m grateful to God because he gave me the most important thing.”

Messi will hope to sign off his career with another World Cup, although his participation is yet to be confirmed. The 38-year-old has just signed a new three-year contract with Inter Miami, suggesting he could play until the 2028 season.