Messi and his teammates received a warm welcome from home (Image: Getty).
What was your first feeling when you saw the championship trophy?
– The trophy makes me irresistible. It seemed to beckon me to approach, touch, and pick up. I’ve heard a lot of people say that if you haven’t won it, you can’t touch it or look at it. However, I saw it shine in the stadium that day. I kissed the trophy as I walked past. It’s like a consolation when I can only stand looking at it in despair 2014. That memory can’t be erased from my mind.
What do you say about the provocation of coach Van Gaal?
– Actually, I didn’t mean to do that. It was just an explosive moment. Some teammates told me what he said before the game. And then, when I was leading 2-0, I did the same thing. I don’t like what I did, including driving the Dutch player away. It was a moment where I was extremely stressed and anxious. Everything happened so fast that I didn’t have time to think. There is no pre-scripted script. I just act on instinct. I don’t like leaving pictures like that.
How do you feel about the reception at home?
– We have had a long journey. Right after arriving at the airport, the whole team felt the festive atmosphere. I didn’t get back to the hotel until 5am. We rested for 7 hours, before entering the celebratory ceremony. The whole team went through a 13-hour journey to return to their homeland, but no one was tired. The joy of the fans is amazing.
Do people drink a lot during the public celebration?
– I dont know. Someone drinks soda. Others drink herbal wine. We don’t care about the weather. Maybe it was not very sunny at that time, but sitting in the convertible was quite windy. As a result, when I got home, I was red, drunk, and had a headache. I had a fever two or three days later. My face also burned horribly.
The photo of Messi lifting the championship trophy set a record for the number of likes on the Instagram page.
What do you say about the photo that set a record for the number of likes on the Instagram page?
– I didn’t post it with the purpose of “like” but in the end, everyone still supported. It proves that many people want me to lift the trophy. That photo has touched many people’s hearts. I can’t read all the million comments. Even my account was locked when I received millions of messages.
How do you feel about Maradona’s absence at the big moment?
– If Maradona was there, he would give us the trophy. He wants to be part of the team. That’s a nice script. I believe that in heaven, Diego wants the best for the team. Especially in the 2022 World Cup, there was a song that mentioned him, calling for help from Heaven.
If you could talk to yourself as a child, what would it be?
– I would say that extraordinary things are waiting for you ahead. It was even beyond his imagination. I will talk about the beautiful roads as well as the thorns to overcome. Either way, I hope you never give up on your dream. Because in the end, you will have a happy ending. It is a well-deserved reward after extraordinary effort.
How does your family live after the 2022 World Cup?
– Thiago was like crazy. I like the way he enjoys the 2022 World Cup or the way he suffers and bursts into tears after the game against the Netherlands. Or another way Mateo calculated after the home team lost to Saudi Arabia. Ciro was the youngest, so he didn’t understand what happened. Its two brothers have been enjoying the 2022 World Cup as Argentina fans. My family was with me for the whole month of the World Cup. When we return to Paris, we still remember our days in Qatar.
Is the World Cup 2022 a gift from God?
– I said this in an interview with Martín Arévalo in 2014. I said that God would give me the World Cup. I felt it right here in Brazil. And now, I receive that gift in a wonderful way. If I had to choose, I would like to win the World Cup at the end of my career.
Thank you for the exchange!