Lionel Messi reflected on the unmatched joy of leading Argentina to their 2022 FIFA World Cup victory, describing the feeling as deeply emotional and unforgettable — on par with the birth of his children. Speaking at the American Business Forum, where he was honoured by Miami’s mayor with the symbolic “key to the city,” the Inter Miami star expressed how the moment of lifting the trophy represented the culmination of his entire career.
Messi said the experience of winning the World Cup was so powerful that words could not do it justice. “With all due respect, because it has nothing to do with it, but when I won the World Cup at the professional level, I had the same feeling as when my children were born. It’s a feeling that’s hard to explain — so special and so big that anything I say falls short,” he shared.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner fulfilled his lifelong dream in Qatar after narrowly missing the title in 2014. His leadership and two goals in the thrilling final against France helped Argentina secure their third World Cup title, with Messi earning the Golden Ball for being the tournament’s best player.
Reflecting on the celebrations in Argentina, Messi said the victory carried immense emotional weight for the nation. “The way the country celebrated showed how much we needed and wanted this to happen again after so long. For me, it was special; winning the World Cup is the ultimate. After the World Cup, you can’t ask for anything more,” he said.
Messi also spoke about his career milestones, mentioning that he had already achieved success at both club and international levels — including Copa América — before winning the World Cup. “That was the missing piece. It was like closing out my entire career with that trophy,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s long-time rival, appeared to downplay Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win during an interview with Piers Morgan. He remarked, “How many World Cups did Argentina win before Messi? Two times? It’s normal. These countries are used to winning big competitions.”
Looking ahead, Messi discussed the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Though he has yet to confirm participation, he expressed optimism about the tournament, saying, “I have very high expectations that the World Cup will be something extraordinary.”