Lionel Messi has revealed his one true regret at Barcelona is not winning the Champions League one more time.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner had an emotional farewell on Sunday after it was confirmed he would be leaving the club he joined as a 13-year-old.
Messi leaves as Barcelona’s greatest ever goalscorer and captain, with a staggering 672 goals scored and 35 trophies in his personal cabinet.
How it started How it ended pic.twitter.com/pUlSOseNtb
— Goal (@goal) August 8, 2021
He did it all and more at the Nou Camp but the 34-year-old does lament the fact he did not win a fifth Champions League with the Blaugrana.
Messi lifted the most precious prize in European club football in 2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11 and 2014/15 – his and Barca’s most recent triumph
He still has a bad feeling over semi-final defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool in 2012 and 2019 respectively.
“I would have liked to have tried to won another Champions League,” Messi told reporters in a press conference.
“We got knocked out in the semi-final against Liverpool, which stopped us getting to another final.
“We got to the semi-final against Chelsea with Pep [Guardiola] and they prevented us from getting to a final. There could have been a time where we won another Champions League, but that’s football.”
Messi missed a second leg penalty in the shock loss to Chelsea nine years ago, while his double in the first leg against Liverpool didn’t count for anything in the end as the team collapsed in a 4-0 trouncing at Anfield two years back.
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But having finally won a major trophy with Argentina this summer, the 34-year-old is looking to add to his incredible collection.
“People know me, they know I am competitive, I want to keep winning,” Messi said.
“In my last years, I want to fight for titles. Congratulations to Dani Alves, I want more titles than him. I am near and will keep at it.
“I don’t know how long I can be at the top. Let’s see how my body responds.”
Set to sign a two-year deal at PSG, Messi will reunite with former teammate Neymar – as well as linking up with longtime rival Sergio Ramos following the Spaniard’s summer switch to Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
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