Lionel Messi unveils Apple Music playlist ‘Messi: The Warm-Up’

Songs by Feid, Rihanna and AC/DC are among those that the Inter Miami captain uses to motivate himself.

“Messi is an artist, yes he is. Comparable to whom? Miquel Barcelo, Ferran Adria or Shakespeare. Why? Because they left something that moved us all.”

Those were the words of former Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola, under whom Lionel Messi first rose to prominence as the finest player on the planet. It is far from the only time that Messi has been described as an artist, someone whose output is as aesthetic as it is athletic.

The Argentine has never previously forayed into the world of art but he has now entered the music industry, courtesy of a new motivational podcast released on Apple Music.

The 60-song playlist is entitled ‘Messi: The Warm-Up’ and is designed to give fans a flavour of his pre-match ritual. It’s packed with everything from Latin pop and cumbia to reggae and rock and roll.

“For as long as I can remember, music has played an important part in my life, especially on match days,” Messi explained. “Music quiets my mind, helps me stay calm and relaxed.”

The playlist last three and a half hours from start to finish, enough time to provide the soundtrack for all your pre-game preparations. The tracks span the breadth of his career and ‘Messi: The Warm-Up’ features more than a few throwback songs.

Included on the playlist are Latin artists Maluma, Rosalia, Feid, Rauw Alejandro, Myke Towers, Bad Bunny, Bizarrap and Karol G. The choice to include Bizarrap is a particularly notable one, given his most famous recent output. Last year the Argentinian producer worked with Shakira to create a ‘diss track’ aimed at her former husband Gerard Pique, who starred alongside Messi at Barcelona.

Aside from the expected Hispanic