‘God wanted me to be world champion’ - Lionel Messi claims 2022 World Cup triumph was destiny after previous heartbreaks with Argentina

The 36-year-old has claimed it was his destiny to secure the World Cup trophy last December, after his Argentina side triumphed over France in the final on penalties at the Lusail Stadium. Messi was on the scoresheet twice, in the first half and extra-time, and also slotted his penalty away during the tense penalty shoot-out against Didier Deschamps' side.

Speaking in the Star+ documentary 'Champions, a year later', via ESPN, Messi explained how he thought he was destined to win back in December, where he said: "I said it many years ago, I was sure that I was going to be world champion. It was before losing the final in Brazil. Then it happened. I had something that I knew that God wanted me to be world champion, that he was going to give it to me. I always trusted that. There were many stumbling blocks along the way, because I had a really bad time, but in the end it happened."

Messi had previously tasted defeat in the World Cup final back in the 2014 Brazil World Cup, where Germany won the competition for the fourth time, thanks to a winner from Borussia Dortmund playmaker Mario Götze.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain star now finds himself in America with David Beckham's MLS franchise, Inter Miami. He has taken the league by storm with 13 goals and assists across all competitions last term, however was unable to secure a spot in the playoffs. He will now enjoy a significant period of rest, before he returns to action with his Miami side in February 2024.