Fernando Romero Nuñez 
Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi opened his Miami home to comedian and interviewer Miguel ‘Migue’ Granados and talked about the World Cup, his new life in the United States, and what’s next for him. Here are some of the highlights from the interview which was streamed on Thursday.
On life in Miami
“The idea was to loosen up a little after so many years, to enjoy other things, and I am doing it”
“We get up at 7 a.m. with the kids, have breakfast, and then I sometimes take them to school. We start training early at the Inter Miami, else you can’t train because of the heat. At the club, we have schedules, like everyone else. There are fines if you show up late, even for me.”
“We train and I get home at 1 p.m., I have lunch with my wife and then we go take a nap. We watch some TV, series, movies, whatever. Then we go pick up the kids and take them to training.”
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On PSG and Kylian Mbappé
“It just happened like that. It wasn’t what I expected, but I always say that things happen for a reason. Even if I wasn’t enjoying myself, I became world champion there.”
“Things are good with [Kylian Mbappé], with everyone. What happened afterward was understandable. It was ‘our fault’ they couldn’t be world champions again. I was one of the few World Cup winners who didn’t get a homage.”
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On his children
“I think I’m a good father. I try to be present, to instill in my children the values that were taught to me when I was little. I always say that I am who I am because of what I learned as a child, with my parents but also at the club [FC Barcelona].”
“Thiago was the one we taught [not to be spoilt], then his brothers followed his lead. They have different personalities. Thiago doesn’t want to have anything to do with “being the son of…” When they’re in a game, Thiago only glances at me. Mateo on the other hand is constantly following me, applauds, waves at people.”
“Thiago has a harder time talking. He has an easier time with [his mother] Antonela to tell her things. She is with them 24 hours a day. Mateo is more outspoken, he tells you everything, he talks and doesn’t stop. And Ciro is more reserved.”
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On life in the spotlight
“I try to not deprive myself of anything by thinking about what’s going to happen, by thinking about the stress. There are times when you are not having a good day and you have to take a photo anyway. The person who comes to get a photo doesn’t understand how you are doing.”
On his future in football
“I don’t think about [the 2026 World Cup], it’s far away. I think about the Copa América, I want to do well. It will be played here in the United States, so it’s going to be nice. The years have gone by and I’ll see how I feel afterward.”
“Football is a job. I am lucky to do a job that I love. I have responsibilities and goals, but it is something that I enjoy doing. What am I going to do next? I don’t know. I would like to be a sports director, be with the kids, teach.”
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