Quote of the day by Lionel Messi: I'm more interested in being a good person than...
Lionel Messi has retired from international football after more than 20 years with Argentina. His 2012 words on character and success now frame the final chapter of his journey.
“I’m more interested in being a good person than being the best footballer in the world.”
Lionel Messi said this in a 2012 interview with El Pais, when he was already one of football’s biggest stars. The thought placed character above goals, trophies and individual awards.
More than a decade later, the quote carries added weight. On August 31, 2026, Messi announced his retirement from international football after more than 20 years with Argentina. His final appearance came in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain, which Argentina lost 1-0. He finished with 207 appearances and 125 goals, as a World Cup winner and two-time Copa America champion.
LIONEL MESSI'S PERSONAL LIFE AND PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY
Lionel Andres Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, and grew up in a football-loving family. He began playing as a child and moved to Spain at 13 to join Barcelona's La Masia academy. He made his senior debut in 2004 and spent 17 seasons at the club, becoming its all-time leading goalscorer.
Messi left Barcelona in 2021 for Paris Saint-Germain and joined Inter Miami in 2023. He has won eight Ballon d'Or awards, the FIFA World Cup, two Copa America titles and numerous club trophies.
His Argentina journey included difficult defeats before he finally won the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022. His international career has now entered its final chapter, after he announced his retirement from Argentina duty on August 31.
Away from football, Messi is married to his childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo. The couple married in 2017 and have three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro. Despite his global fame, Messi has largely kept his family life private.
His career, however, has been defined not only by records but also by his approach to success. That makes his statement – “I’m more interested in being a good person than being the best footballer in the world,” – particularly meaningful. For Messi, achievements may define a career, but character determines how a person is remembered.
WHAT THE QUOTE MEANS
At its heart, Messi’s quote asks a simple question: what remains when the applause stops? A football career can bring records, medals and fame, but none alone determines character.
That is why his words are relatable beyond sport. A student may chase high marks, a professional may pursue a promotion, and an athlete may dream of becoming the best. Ambition matters, but Messi’s message is that achievement should not come at the cost of kindness or humility.
In the 2012 interview, Messi said he preferred winning titles with his team to individual prizes or scoring more goals than anyone else. He also said he hoped people would remember him as a decent person.
OTHER QUOTES BY MESSI
I prefer to win titles with the team more than individual prizes or scoring more goals than anybody else.
When I retire, I hope people remember me as a decent guy.
I always go onto the pitch thinking about winning, not scoring a lot of goals.
My hunger to play every game hasn’t changed.
Messi’s international retirement has closed one of football’s greatest chapters, but it has also brought his old words into focus. Records may define a career, but character shapes how a person is remembered. For Messi, being a good person mattered more.