Messi admits he'd 'give anything' to win with Argentina

Lionel Messi strongly affirmed he would “give up anything, including all of the goals and all of the prizes to be able to win with the Argentine team.”

The star of Barcelona said, “the Copa América is to be played in our country, close to my people, to my affections and the Argentine public. This moment means a lot to me.”

Messi showed the “joy” he felt over the “affection” that Argentina supporters have shown him since he arrived to the country, and said that “seeing the public happy” is his “greatest wish.” He also added that their objective was to “win the Copa no matter what."

He furthered, “I feel as though we have been well-prepared by el Checho.”

The top footballer met the trainer at the Olympic Games, when Argentina won in Beijing, 2008.

“I know what his thoughts and style of play are. Him as much as the players, want the team to play well on the pitch, something that, although it seems simple, it’s the most difficult part about football,” he said.

The nicknamed “Pulga” continued to explain how between the players they “continuously” talk about “how spectacular it would be to start achieving great things while wearing an Argentina shirt,” while he spoke with the public.

After winning with Barcelona, Messi returned to Argentina in recent weeks to have some time off and then begin preparing himself for the Copa América.

He concluded, “Maybe, sometimes, I felt like I was being talked about a lot, by the way things were happening, but now the truth is that I feel the affection coming from those close to me and hope that I can give it back to them in the best way I know how: by playing football.”