LIONEL MESSI is one game away from lifting football’s biggest prize – but what would he have been if he wasn’t one of the games greatest ever players?
While the Argentina ace always dreamt of making it in the big time, he also had a backup plan.
Messi gave the interview just months before he joined Barcelona
An old interview with a 13-year-old Messi from an Argentinian newspaper has resurfaced online ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final against France.
It is alleged to be Messi’s first ever interview, with newspaper La Capital in his home city of Rosario.
It was published in September 2003, just months before he moved to Barcelona.
The fact file style article saw Messi give quick-fire answers on some of his hopes and dreams for the future, among other things.
After revealing his hobby was listening to music, a later question was a potential job for the future.
Even as a youngster Messi always saw himself being involved in sport, whether it was playing professionally or not.
He answered: “PE teacher.”
However, the teenage prodigy always had his eyes set on becoming one of football’s greatest ever players.
When asked for a hope, he responded: “To play in the first division with Newell’s [Old Boys].”
While Messi has never played in the Argentinian first division with his boyhood club, he did win ten top-flight titles in Spain with Barcelona, as well as four Champions Leagues.
But he has already achieved his dream, which was: “To play for Argentina.”
However, he can take his dream one stop further with World Cup glory on Sunday.
The 35-year-old has scored five goals and provided three assists in just six games in Qatar.
Messi is the joint top scorer in Qatar, alongside Kylian Mbappe
