Messi on World Cup win after struggles in Argentina, fans love me\u060c<\/p>\n
Nearly a year after Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy for Argentina in Qatar, the Inter Miami CF star looked back on the complicated path to the title and expressed his satisfaction at having transformed criticism into praise in his country.<\/p>\n
In an interview for the special “Champions, one year later” on Disney Star+, Messi said that one of his greatest triumphs after winning the World Cup and Copa Am\u00e9rica with Argentina is to have the \u201cbeautiful\u201d feeling of being loved by \u201c95 or 100% of Argentinians.\u201d<\/p>\n
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)<\/strong><\/p>\n “I had a bad time. So did my family and the people who love me. They [critics in Argentina] were very unfair to a generation of players and they said a lot of bad things about me. I’m not bad,” Messi said.<\/p>\n “It is a triumph for me to have changed this situation and won over all the Argentine people. Today, 95 or 100% of Argentines love me and it is a magnificent feeling.”<\/p>\n Messi made his debut for Argentina in 2005, but his first major tournament title came in 2021 after beating Brazil in the Copa Am\u00e9rica final. Over the next 18 months he led the Albiceleste <\/em>At Finalissimo <\/em>trophy at Wembley and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In between, there have been heartbreaking defeats, including at the 2011 and 2016 Copa Am\u00e9rica tournaments and a shocking round of 16 loss to France at the 2018 World Cup.<\/p>\n Messi said it was difficult to understand why he was so loved at Barcelona and reviled in Argentina.<\/p>\n “I didn’t ask myself why they [some Argentina fans] didn’t want me. I saw how they attacked me from several places. I lived in two opposing realities. In Barcelona, \u200b\u200bwin often and have the full support, love and respect of everyone. In Argentina the situation was totally different, with criticism everywhere,\u201d Messi said.<\/p>\n