Read Lionel Messi’s first ever interview in 2000

He was 13 years old

On the occasion of the qualification of the Argentine national team to the final of the World Cup in Qatar, the first interview that Lionel Messi had given in his life came to the surface again.

It was given 22 years ago (3/9/2000) when Lionel Messi was 13 years old and secured by Rosario’s newspaper, Diario La Capital. Leo was playing at the Newells Old Boys Academy at the time and had a dream of playing in their first team.

“Lionel Messi is a player who plays as a holding midfielder for his team. He is not yet another promising player, but a kid with a huge future ahead of him. Despite his height, he can outrun any opponent, dribble and score, while he is delightful with the ball at his feet and today (at that time) reveals himself to the world” said the foreword of the publication, followed by the “interrogation”.

Lionel Messi’s interview in detail
His hero: “I have two. It’s my dad, Jorge, and my godfather, Claudio.”

His favourite coach: “Everyone I’ve had, because I’ve learned something from all of them”
Favourite trainer: “Pablo Sanchez”
Which player does he stand out: “Two. My brother and cousin”
His team: “Newell’s Old Boys”
His hobby: “Listening to music”
The kind of music he likes: “Cuarteto and Cumbia”
His favourite TV show: “Primicias”
His favourite book: “The Bible”
His favourite magazine: “Pasión Rojinegra (the fan magazine of his team)
His favourite movie: “Baby’s Day Out”
Sport: “Handball”
Model: “Nicole Neumann”
His favourite food: “Chicken with sauce”
His favourite subject: “Spanish”
Goal: “To finish high school”
The goal with Newells: “To play in the first team”
A moment of joy: “When we became champions”
A moment of sadness: “The death of my grandmother”
A memory: “When my grandmother took me to play soccer for the first time”
A dream: “To play for Argentina”
Family: “My dad Jorge, my mom Celia and my brothers and sisters Rodrigo, Natalia and Marisol”
Expectations for that year: “To be champions again”