It’s been an intriguing 2021-22 season for Lionel Messi, who has seen some highs in having his national team qualify and some lows, which is getting booed at the Parc des Princes following Paris Saint-Germain’s elimination from the UEFA Champions League.
Former Argentina footballer Pablo Aimar spoke with La Selecta (via Marca) and shared his thoughts regarding the 34-year-old, who will likely be playing in his last FIFA World Cup later this year in Qatar.
Aimar commented on the negative remarks that Messi has endured during his time in the French capital, where he’s struggled at times this season adapting to his new environment.
“Those people who reach those levels, never ever did it for anything other than passion, you don’t play at five years old thinking that at 20 you’re going to buy zero kilometers,” Aimar said.
“You don’t play at eight years old thinking that at 30 you are going to have a financially solved life; you never do it for that. Later, at the end of the race, other things come into play, but what moves you is passion; it’s nothing else.”
Despite the criticism that Messi is receiving this season, Aimar doesn’t let that affect the way he sees the Argentine forward and the legacy he will leave behind when the forward does indeed retire.
“Messi runs out of praise. As Kobe Bryant once said, that he played the games, especially at the end of his career, thinking that there was someone who was going to see him just for that one time, and it seems to me that Leo plays a little thinking about the one who is not going to see him. to see again,” Aimar added.
“Messi and Maradona left a legacy. It’s wonderful that boys want to be Leo; obviously, you can’t, but it’s a carrot that will make many boys train, play, have fun, go, don’t miss training, but it’s good, it’s a sport, a game, It’s a healthy reference for little kids.”
Messi has another season with the French side, and it will be interesting to see what he decides to do with his career once the World Cup is over.
