Culture Craze
When the boots come off: the quieter, human side of Lionel Messi
For someone whose life has been lived under stadium lights, Lionel Messi has always kept the rest of the world firmly in the shadows. He scores. He wins. He goes home. The talking has always been done with his feet.
That is why his recent sit-down with LUZU TV landed differently. It was not about tactics, trophies, or rivalries. It was about who Messi is when the house is noisy, the kids are everywhere, and the cameras are switched off.
A rare moment from a famously private star
Messi has never chased headlines outside football. He has said openly that he prefers attention to stay on the pitch and nowhere else. So when he chose to speak candidly about his inner life, the reaction online was instant.
Clips from the interview spread fast across social platforms, not because of bragging rights or career highlights, but because of how disarmingly normal he sounded. The greatest player of his generation talking about feeling overwhelmed by mess, needing quiet time, and crying during films struck a nerve.
In a sporting world that still celebrates emotional armour, Messi quietly stepping out of it felt almost radical.
Sensitivity, therapy and learning to change
One of the most talked about moments came when Messi described himself as sensitive. He spoke openly about crying during movies and about the emotional weight he carries, even now.
He also revealed that during his years in Barcelona, he turned to therapy. It was a short admission, but a significant one. High-performance sport rarely makes space for these conversations, and even less so from players who seem untouchable.
Messi acknowledged that he used to bottle things up and that seeking help changed him. It was not framed as a dramatic turning point, just a practical decision made during an intense chapter of his career. That honesty, understated and unpolished, resonated widely.
Family as the anchor behind the success
At the centre of Messi’s world is his family. His wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, whom he has known since childhood, is the person he leans on most in everyday life. He credits her with understanding his moods, often before he does himself.
When it comes to football, that role belongs to his father, Jorge Messi. Match by match, they dissect performances together, sometimes watching again, sometimes just talking it through. It is a dynamic many families will recognise, different people supporting different parts of who we are.
Their three sons, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, fill the house with energy and chaos. Messi admitted that the noise can overwhelm him and that he actively seeks moments of solitude. A bit of television, a game, silence. Nothing special, which is exactly the point.
Routines, quirks and internet rabbit holes
Messi described himself as structured and routine-driven. Sudden changes throw him off balance. Small disruptions can affect his mood. It is a personality trait that makes sense when viewed alongside his on-pitch precision.
Then came the details that truly delighted fans.
Yes, Messi watches TikTok. Often. He even mentioned stumbling across an AI video of himself being arrested. Proof that algorithmic chaos is universal. He also enjoys celebrity gossip shows as a way to switch off.
He revealed that he sometimes messages Bad Bunny on Instagram, calling the artist a phenomenon. Two global stars, casually connecting like anyone else.
And when it comes to unwinding with a drink, Messi keeps things simple. He likes wine. Sometimes mixed with Sprite. No luxury branding, no image crafting. Just preference.
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Why life in the US feels different
Now based in Florida with Inter Miami, Messi spoke about how life in the United States has changed his day-to-day experience. Football does not dominate public life in the same way it did in Barcelona. There is more space, more anonymity, and more breathing room.
For his family, that shift has mattered. The intensity has softened. The pace is slower. It is a new chapter that feels less like escape and more like balance.
More than a football moment
This interview did not redefine Messi’s legacy. It did something quieter and arguably more powerful. It reminded people that even legends live ordinary lives between extraordinary moments.
In South Africa, where football loyalty runs deep, and conversations around mental health are still evolving, Messi’s openness landed as more than celebrity content. It felt like permission. To be sensitive. To seek help. To crave quiet. To be brilliant at one thing and completely normal at everything else.
When the boots come off, the myth fades. What remains is a man navigating life much like the rest of us, just with a World Cup medal on the shelf.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Magic 828
