Lionel Messi's classy message to his younger self in new Netflix show

Football superstar Lionel Messi appeared in the new Netflix documentary series Captains of the World and answered what advice he would give the teenager version of himself

Lionel Messi issued some sound advice to his younger self in the Netflix series ‘Captains of the World’.

On Saturday, the streaming giant released a documentary series offering a behind-the-scenes look at the teams who played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In Qatar, the 36-year-old achieved his dream when he guided Argentina to their third triumph on the world stage.

During the series, clips are shown of Messi as a 16-year-old ready to begin what he has turned into an illustrious career. Messi was asked what he would say to his teenage self now with almost 20 years of experience to reflect on. With a smile, the Inter Miami forward said: “Same thing I was told at that time, to enjoy football and keep doing what you always do.

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“That’s what matters the most, and the rest will come. God knows what he’s doing and why he’s doing it.” Over the last two decades, Messi has become football’s most decorated superstar with 44 trophies, which includes 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League crowns, and a record eight Ballon d’Or wins.

Messi also described how he felt when he walked out into Lusail Stadium for the World Cup final against France, which has since gone down as one of the greatest finals of all time. The Argentinian captain made an emotional confession about what was going through his mind while he walked past the trophy.

“They say you can’t touch it or look at it or anything,” Messi said. “I could see it shining and the trophy was calling out to me. It’s very hard to explain how you feel at that moment. All the energy everyone is so excited.” It explains why he kissed the coveted trophy before it was handed to him in the post-match presentation in Qatar.

He was overjoyed and could not wait to get his hands on the World Cup after winning an enthralling final against his former teammate Kylian Mbappe. Messi scored from the penalty spot to give Argentina the lead in the first half before Angel di Maria finished off a sweeping move to double their lead.

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They looked comfortable until Mbappe converted a penalty for France in the 80th minute, before the 25-year-old equalised with a sensational volley a minute later to turn the game on its head. Messi registered his seventh goal of the tournament to put Argentina back in front in the first period of extra time before Mbappe scored his second penalty 10 minutes later to take the game to a shootout.

Both Messi and Mbappe kept their cool and scored from the spot in the shootout, but it was Argentina who prevailed 4-2 to win their first World Cup since 1986. "I had a bad time. My family and the people who love me did too,” Messi said in an interview for the "Champions, a Year Later" special on Disney Star+.

“[Critics in Argentina] were very unfair to a generation of players and they said a lot of bad things about me. I'm not spiteful. I feel it like a triumph for me to have changed that situation and won over all the people of Argentina. Today 95% or 100% of Argentines love me and that's a beautiful feeling."