Lionel Messi, who won the World Cup in December with Argentina, felt «called upon» to win the gold trophy after the final, he said Monday in an interview with Radio Urbana Play in Buenos Aires.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner would have preferred that the trophy be given to him by his compatriot Diego Armando Maradona, who died in 2020 without witnessing Albiceleste's third World Cup triumph.
"I would have been happy if Diego had given me the cup," admitted the 35-year-old soccer player, "so he could at least see Argentina win the title. He really loved the national team. From there, from above, he gave me strength, like a lot of people who love me."