He’s arguably the greatest player to ever step on a football pitch, an attacker who has – quite literally – won it all, but just how does Lionel Messi unwind?
Well, the Argentinian maestro, now 38, gave his adoring fans an insight into his life away from the limelight with a rare interview this week.
Messi is enjoying a well-earned winter rest after another gruelling, but once again hugely successful, campaign.
The former Barcelona and PSG star helped Inter Miami to their maiden MLS Cup, providing two assists as the Florida-based club beat Vancouver Whitecaps in the final.
Having hailed the occasion as a ‘beautiful and emotional’ moment, Messi no-doubt celebrated with his favourite cold drink, which he revealed this week is rather peculiar.
Speaking to Luzu TV, he said: ‘I like wine, but if not, I have my usual: wine with Sprite. So it hits fast, haha!’
The superstar explained that the mixture is ideal for him, particularly in the baking sunshine of Miami as it helps him relax.
Messi added that spending time alone is crucial to his routine as he tries to juggle living in the spotlight and his life at home with his wife Antonella, 37, and their three children, Thiago, 13, Mateo, 10, and Ciro, eight.
‘I’m weirder than s**t,’ he joked. ‘I really like being alone. The mess at home with the three kids running around everywhere ends up saturating me and I like a moment of solitude.
‘I’m very structured, if I have the day organised in a certain way and in the middle something happens, that changes everything for me.
‘Antonella can say many more things than I can, it depends on my mood on many things, on small stupid things.’
Messi is gearing up for his sixth, and almost certainly final, World Cup this summer in the USA, Canada and Mexico with the Argentinian national team.
The nation go into the tournament as holders after Messi led them to glory four years ago in Qatar, scoring twice in the final against France.
He was coy about the prospect of making the Argentina squad for this summer’s event in an interview last month, though his inclusion is not really in-doubt barring an injury.
Messi, who will be 39 by the summer, said: ‘I hope I can be there. I’ve said before that I’d love to be there. At worst, I’ll be there watching it live, but it will be special.
‘The World Cup is special for everyone, for any country, especially for us, because we live in a completely different way.
‘The truth is we have extraordinary players and it’s been shown for the years – especially the desire and excitement since (Lionel) Scaloni took over.
‘The mentality everyone has. It’s a squad full of winners, with strong mindsets, who want to win more, and that’s contagious. You see it in training, in matches. You see them train and they give everything.
‘We’re an amazing group that gets along very well, but in training matches or certain drills, if they have to go hard, they go hard. Everyone gives their all, and that’s a huge strength of this group and this national team.
‘Scaloni and his staff built all of this. The day-to-day atmosphere comes from them.
‘New players keep appearing; aside from the ones already there, new faces keep coming in. When a group is like this, it’s easier for newcomers to fit in.
‘Argentina needs to take advantage of this moment. Coming off winning the World Cup gives you confidence and relief to prepare competitions differently.’
Argentina have been drawn in a group against Algeria, Austria and Jordan with their first game taking place on June 17.
