Lionel Messi makes World Cup final confession to Zinedine Zidane

10 November 2023 , 09:00

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Lionel Messi wishes he could play the 2014 World Cup Final again. (Image: Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Lionel Messi has told Zinedine Zidane that he wishes he could play the 2014 World Cup final again.

In an interview arranged by adidas Football at Inter Miami, the two football legends sat down and discussed a variety of topics, from what they thought about the state of football today to who inspired them to choose their shirt numbers.

Toward the end of the conversation, Zidane asked Messi if there was a game he would like to play again. At first, the Argentine said he didn't regret playing in any game, but soon he explained why he would like to replay the 2014 World Cup final.

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"Although I was able to erase it a little bit with this World Cup, it is still there," Messi told the Frenchman. Zidane then replied, saying that Messi "changed" his story after helping lead Argentina over France to win the 2022 World Cup.

Before winning the World Cup in 2022, the 2014 edition of the competition was the closest Messi got to winning the tournament. Despite Argentina playing Germany close, Mario Gotze scored the winning goal in the 113th minute for the Germans in extra time.

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Then in 2018, Messi and Argentina were knocked out in the Round of 16, 4-3, by France, the eventual champions. With Messi leading Argentina to a World Cup victory in 2022, he was able to achieve a goal that eluded him his entire career.

Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi chat all things football

After winning the World Cup, Messi then transferred to the David Beckham-owned MLS franchise Inter Miami. With the team floundering before he arrived, Messi almost turned Miami into a playoff team, though injuries hampered what the 36-year-old could do on the pitch.

Still, his impact was palpable as he won the Leagues Cup before another Ballon d'Or, his record-extending eighth. Messi also was very close to winning MLS Newcomer of the Year but lost to Atlanta United forward Giorgos Giakoumakis.

In order to push Miami in further, Messi had provided Beckham with suggestions on who the club should add, including Luis Suarez and Sergi Roberto, who both played with him at Barcelona.

But for Messi his chat with Zidane was enough to keep him happy for now. "It's a pity that we couldn't play together," Messi said. "This is the moment for me to pass you the ball." He then added: "Today is a very important day for me because I can tell him how much I admire him... I think it is magic, pure magic."

Jarrod Castillo