by Mariano Pernía, former Argentine soccer player who shone in the elite of European soccer, Offering an interesting perspective on Lionel Messi. and his participation in the World Cups in a recent interview with Flashscore.
Pernía, who played more than 200 games in the elite and had an outstanding career in clubs such as Recreativo, Getafe and Atlético de Madrid, as well as a brief period in the Spanish teamshared his reflections on the Argentine star.
In particular, Pernía highlighted Messi’s career and his evolution over the years. “I had no doubt that Leo was going to be everything he was, because I also knew him and knew his mental strength. He never stops wanting to grow and wanting to learn,” said the former Argentine defender. Pernía praised Messi’s perseverance and continuous improvement, noting how the player strove to perfect different aspects of his game, from finishing to set pieces..
The former footballer also addressed the situation in Argentina around Messi and the periods of criticism he experienced. “In Argentina there was a time when we did not deserve to have Messi with the national team because he was criticized a lot. “It was even asked that he not go to the World Cup,” Pernía commented. However, he highlighted Messi’s mental strength and his determination to move forward despite the criticism.
One of Pernía’s most striking statements was his speculation about what would have happened if Messi had chosen to represent Spain instead of Argentina. “If Messi had chosen to play for Spain he would already have two World Cups”, he claimed. Pernía suggested that Messi could have contributed to Spain’s success in the World Cup editions in which he participated if he had made that decision.
