Messi: Barcelona made my dream come true

Jun 22, 2012 12:57:00 PM

The Argentina star revealed that his only wish as a little boy was to become a professional player and said he will forever be grateful to the Blaugrana for making it happen

Lionel Messi has credited Barcelona for helping him realise his "dream" of becoming a professional football player.

The Argentina international joined Barca at the age of 13 and has won the Ballon d'Or three times since making his debut in 2004.

Messi says that he always dreamt of playing football at the highest level and spoke of Barcelona's importance in making that happen.

"Since I was three or four years old, I dreamt of becoming a footballer," he told Caracol TV. "I was walking around with a football and all I wanted was to play.

"My only thought was to become a footballer, I did not think about doing anything else. If I could not have become one, I actually do not know what I would be today.

"I do not know what Barcelona saw in me, but I will always be grateful to them for what they did and what they keep doing.

"At that time, I was on a very expensive medical treatment and they covered all the costs and gave me the opportunity to play.

"This was something very beautiful, because they allowed me to realise my dream."

Messi then advised young players to not drop out of school and revealed the advice that his parents used to give him when he was a child.

"When I was a kid, I did not like to study much and they insisted that I kept studying because it was important," the Argentine explained.

"Now, I see that they were right, that it is good that one has studied. You never know what could happen in football.

"Every kid dreams of playing in the Primera Division, but not everyone can make it, so studying could be very important."

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Bayern's jinx - CL final referee Nicola Rizzoli
Goal takes a look at the career of the Italian arbiter to date following Uefa's decision to appoint the 41-year-old for Saturday's showpiece at Wembley
Goal's Serie A awards for 2012-13
Goal crowns the best and worst from Italy over the course of the season
2012-13: The season that ended an era
A frenzy of tears, salutes and send-offs have marked the finale of the campaign of goodbyes as the Premier League draws a line under its first defining generation
Now or never for Wenger to seal legacy
The Gunners sealed a place in next season's Champions League with victory at Newcastle on Sunday - and must now spend money to improve the squad over the summer
And Goal.com's World Player of the Week is ...
Check out which star man gets the nod from our panel of experts this week ...

Goal.com