Messi: My wish was to return to Barcelona and retire there, but it wasn't possible

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner talks about his career

Lionel Messi did it again: on Monday he picked up his eighth Ballon d'Or. After being proclaimed once again the best player on the planet, the Argentine footballer gave an interview to France Football in which he reviews his career, the recent World Cup won with Argentina and his relationship with Barcelona.

Starting with his past in Spain, Messi referred to the club that was his home for many years, Barcelona, and spoke about the rumors of his return to the club after leaving PSG: «I could have returned to Barcelona, but it didn't happen. My first thought was always to return home, to be able to play at Barcelona again and retire there as I had always dreamed. But it wasn't possible.»

Despite this, the Argentinean has fond memories of Barcelona and confesses that he continues to «watch the games» of the team coached by Xavi, Leo's former teammate and friend: «I think the team has evolved well since Xavi's arrival, with a mix of young players of excellent level and experienced players like Lewandowski and Kounde».

The only player who comes close to him in individual awards is Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the Ballon d'Or five times: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. The two maintained for years a struggle for the conquest. Precisely, the Argentine referred to that duel: «It was a very good battle on a sporting level. We feed off each other's rivalry, because we are both great competitors. He also always wanted to win everything, all the time. It was a very nice moment for both of us and for everyone who loves football. I think we deserve a lot of credit for being able to stay at the top for so long. It's extremely difficult to stay at the top for ten or fifteen years.»