Messi restates desire for Argentina return after Barcelona career
A future in Argentina appears to be on the horizon after Lionel Messi reiterated his desire to return to his homeland.
Though the Barcelona star didn't disclose whether he'd return to play football, Messi revealed his eagerness to move to his hometown, Rosario, and live among the citizens after being away for so many years.
"One day I would like to return to my country," Messi said in the Sports Illustrated short film "The World of Messi."
"I was so small when I left, I would like to properly enjoy Rosario, my city, with my people."
Messi also acknowledged the sacrifices he made when his family moved to Barcelona to help him pursue his dream of becoming a professional at the age of 13.
"It was a difficult time," he said. "In one way it was positive, as to come and live and play in Barcelona was something spectacular, but it was also difficult. I left everything behind, my friends, many of my family, to come to a country and start from zero. It was very difficult."
In the end, the move worked out spectacularly for Messi and the Catalan giants, who have won eight La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, and countless pieces of silverware since he made his senior debut in 2005.
But success on the international stage has been a different story as Argentina has only managed to finish as the runner-up in both the World Cup and Copa America with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner in the fold.
His next opportunity to try to bring success to the football-crazed nation will be this summer in the United States during the Copa America Centenario, a tournament Argentina hasn't won since 1993.
"We will try to win the trophy, take the opportunity we have," he said. "It would be very important for us to win the trophy, as it is a long time since that has happened. We were very close in the past, like in last year's Copa America. I think we deserve to win a big competition."
Earlier this year, Messi was open to the possibility of returning to the South American nation as a player, but admitted there was no timetable.