(VIDEO) While some criticize Messi for walking on the pitch, Lionel explains and reveals the reason for doing it

No one can argue that Lionel Messi is one of the greatest football players of all time and one of the greatest players from Argentina of all time. Messi has achieved many things throughout his career, and recently, he has achieved greatness with his Argentina national team by winning the Copa America in 2021 and winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022. An issue certain fans complain about is his lack of effort when it comes to dropping back to defend with the team. Messi is now 37 years old, and his fitness levels are not the same as before due to his age. Messi responds to those critics about his recent game, and his explanation makes sense as he analyzes the opponent. Messi said, "When I walk, I analyze the positioning of the opponent, how we are positioned when we don't have the ball. I'm always attentive to marking assignments, tracking those who are left unmarked. I try to get away from my marker, mentally stepping out of the game to be well-positioned if we regain possession or to have extra time to start a counterattack or play."

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Messi explains that he likes to check on how the teams play and wants to beat them so he and his team can continue winning more trophies. As Messi said, "My competitiveness will never go away; it's a gift. That's just who I am. I was born this way, and it's very difficult for it to fade. I even find it hard to let my children win."

Messi also mentioned that he doesn't care much about the statistics of the game. The Inter Miami star said, "I don't pay attention to statistics, data, assists, or goals. And sorry to the coaches, but even less to GPS. I've never cared about how much I run in a match or at what speed."

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Messi on dealing with losses

Messi reveals the curious reason why he deals with losses better than before. The Argentina captain said, "As time passes, you learn from defeats. Some are hard to overcome, and I prefer not to dwell on them, but they ultimately contribute to personal growth. Nowadays, I handle them differently. Since my first son, Thiago, arrived, it has changed me significantly."

Messi said, "Previously, I might have withdrawn for a few days, avoiding communication and training poorly while ruminating on what could have been. However, Thiago's presence altered everything for me. Seeing him when I come home helps me put things into perspective and move forward."