On the occasion of Lionel Messi’s birthday on June 24, Argentinian journalist Juan Pablo Varsky published an interview with the star athlete where he answered openly without avoiding any question - including about his faith.
“We taped it in Atlanta on the 18th, after a year of requests and a month of production. We chose to show it on the day of his 37th birthday. We are proud that Leo chose Clank Media to talk about football (soccer). I hope you enjoy it as much as we did”, said Varsky on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
The soccer star opened his heart and talked about some little-known aspects of his life as a high competition athlete, but also spoke as a humble, simple man who has faith in God, the God who gave him a gift that he honors, and a man who does not forget where he comes from.
“It is clear to me that I was born this way because God chose me. It was a gift that He gave me, and then I tried to make the most of it, to squeeze it to the max. But really, I did not do anything to be the player that I have been since I was little”, Messi said.
What stands out among the things that Messi shared with Clank are the lessons learned from battles he has fought.
“Over time, you learn from your defeats. It may be difficult to overcome some of them, but in the long run, it helps and makes you grow”, the captain of the Argentinian national team said.
Besides being a good person, husband of only one wife, dedicated father and passionate about his family, as well as a true friend to the other team members, many people consider Lionel Messi a Christian. (But not like Ronaldo, his supposed “archenemy” since the time when he played for Barcelona… a sports rivalry fed by the mass media and supporters, which does not really exist in reality, according to the Argentinian player.)
Up to now, nobody seemed to be able to confirm if or what Messi believes. When he scores a goal, he usually points to the sky. Someone said that it is because he dedicates it to his grandmother Celia, who was the one who let him take his first steps in soccer by allowing him to play with the older boys in Grandoli, the neighborhood club.
Some time ago, a little over a month after winning the World Cup in Qatar, El Gráfico magazine interviewed Messi and dedicated two paragraphs to the subject of his beliefs, in connection with the last penalty of the final game, kicked by Gonzalo Montiel, that secured the third star for the Argentinian team.
“Is Messi a believer?”, asks the journalist, who then answers himself: “He not only is a believer, but he asked God to grant him his desire to close the circle with the Argentinian team”, and cites two statements by the Number 10: “I asked God, as I do always for everything in my life (especially at that moment!) I asked Him that Montiel would score and that the match would end already. I did not ask my grandmother or Diego [Maradona] but I asked God, as always.”
“I knew, I felt that God had something in store for me and it was at a very special moment, near the end of the circle, the end of my career as a professional athlete. I thank Him every day of my life for this and for everything He has always given me. I cannot ask Him for more, because thanks to Him I have everything,” he added.
He was raised as a Roman Catholic, following his family’s beliefs. He has two tattoos that showcase his Catholic faith: one of Jesus Christ with the crown of thorns, on the upper side of his right shoulder, and the other, a rosary on his forearm.
Some people are saying – although it has never been confirmed to be true – that a well-known Evangelical pastor and self-proclaimed “apostle” once visited Messi at his home in Barcelona. Apparently, this “apostle” prophesized to him that Argentina would win the 2014 World Cup; but the defeat in that competition made Messi so sad that, according to the same reports, he did not want anything to do with the Evangelical world from then on.
Originally published on Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
