Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi said he was grateful to be among the best players in world football, but stressed that he did not attach much importance to individual glory.
Messi strengthened his record by winning the Ballon d'Or for the seventh time last Monday, beating Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea midfielder Jorginho.
The Paris Saint-Germain striker has previously won the Golden Ball in the years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019, and won it this year after being the top scorer in the Spanish League last season, and winning the Copa America with Argentina for the first time in his career last July.
Messi and his children with the 7 Ballon D'Ors đ pic.twitter.com/aNnJzm6KOb
â Everything Messi (@EverythingLM1O) December 4, 2021
Messi is satisfied with being among the best
"For me, the fact that I am among the best players in the world is quite enough," Messi told the French magazine L'Ăquipe.
He added, "I don't know how to express it so that it will not be interpreted. This does not mean that I am not interested, but I do not attach much importance to it. It does not matter if I am the best or not. I did not try to be the best either."
Transfer from Barcelona to Saint-Germain
Messi surprised everyone last summer by leaving Barcelona and joining Paris Saint-Germain for two seasons.
Messi is Barcelona's all-time top scorer with 672 goals.
The 34-year-old striker is a role model for many around the world, but he does not enjoy giving advice to young players in this sense.
"I am fighting for my dreams," Messi said. "In the beginning I wanted to be a professional player and then I tried to achieve new goals every year."
"And in the midst of it all there was luck, it also depends on the will of the Lord, I believe he wanted all this to happen to me."