A Conversation From the Heart

In an intimate conversation with Tom Llamas for NBC Nightly News, Lionel Messi opened up like he rarely does. Far from rehearsed answers, the Inter Miami star spoke about the athletes who shaped his life and the eternal bond that connects him to Diego Maradona.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner recalled how, as a young boy in Rosario, he saw Maradona play live and understood what it meant to be a symbol for an entire nation. “For us Argentinians, Maradona was always our greatest idol and our deepest admiration,” he confessed with nostalgia. “Diego transcended everything.”

Diego’s Legacy in His Career

Messi has never hidden that Maradona was his greatest inspiration, and every step of his career seems to honor him. After winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he dedicated his triumph to the eternal No.10: “I would have liked Diego to give me the cup, or at least to see all of this. From above, he and many people who love me were strong.”

More than an idol, Maradona was an invisible mentor — a figure who taught him to play with passion and defend Argentina’s colors with pride. “He made us love football in a completely different way,” Messi once said.

Respect for Greatness Beyond Football

Although Maradona holds a sacred place in his heart, Messi also paid tribute to the icons who changed the history of other sports. He named Michael Jordan, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry as examples of excellence and longevity.

“They competed for so long at the highest level and so close to each other that they made everything much greater,” he explained. For Messi, those careers are a lesson: greatness isn’t measured only by trophies, but by transcendence.

With the serenity of someone who has already conquered everything, Lionel Messi spoke more like a fan than an idol. And among all the names he mentioned, the echo of Diego Maradona remains the loudest in his life.