Rare Lionel Messi interview is music to Inter Miami fans' ears | OneFootball

The captain says Los Garzas are 'in a very good moment'

Lionel Messi, maybe the world's most recognizable athlete, is famously uncomfortable in the media spotlight. He doesn't seek publicity and rarely speaks to reporters. When he does, it makes news.

Earlier this week he granted an exclusive half-hour interview to ESPN Argentina, sharing his takes on a wide range of topics: the 2026 World Cup, Pep Guardiola, Barcelona and -- ho-hum -- trying to win his first non-European league title Saturday when the team he captains, Inter Miami CF, plays the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first MLS Cup final for either side.

"I'm happy; it's very special to play another final with this club. We already played another one recently. Being able to reach the MLS final with a 'new' club is spectacular," Messi said during the interview. The "recent" final he mentioned was the Herons' 3-0 humiliation Aug. 31 in Seattle when the Herons lost the 2025 Leagues Cup to the Sounders; by "new" club, the captain could be referring to Miami's short six-season history or to the side's form since a suspension forced star striker Luis Suárez to the bench. Or both.

Either way, it's clear he's optimistic about Miami's chances to win its most important match to date, a victory that could punctuate the Messi project.

"We've already started working on it [the MLS final], studying the opponent, watching videos with Masche [first-year coach Javier Mascherano], doing tactical work. We're in good shape," Messi said.

"We're in a very good moment, the team is solid and excited. Playing at home is a plus. Even though we went through a stretch where we were very inconsistent and struggled to win back-to-back games, at home we always stayed strong."

Messi also commented on Major League Soccer's rigorous schedule, ("I'll take it day by day, being honest and realistic and trying to feel good,") his childhood dream, (...to play for Newell's first team,") defending Argentina's World Cup title next summer ("Argentina needs to take advantage of this moment...), and playing for Guardiola ("...for me he's the best.")

The interview is vintage Messi: an artist at the peak of his powers, with a confidence in his abilities born of experience and accomplishment, not arrogance; he is a player with nothing left to prove. And that might be the most dangerous weapon he wields against the Whitecaps Saturday.

The 2025 MLS Cup is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Chase Stadium. The match will be broadcast on FOX and FOX Deportes and streamed on Apple TV.