Lionel Messi has revealed the significance of the gesture behind this tribute in 2020 to idol
Diego Maradona. Messi wore a Newell’s Old Boys kit after scoring for Barcelona. The little
magician said that the kit he wore came from his home collection and it was fate that led him to
done that jersey after Maradona’s death.

Speaking to Tyc Sports Messi said, “I was lying in bed with [my wife] Antonela and I told her: 'I
have to do something for Diego, I have to do something.' I have the part from the [personal
collection], with the trophies, t-shirts, and I'm going to see what's there. I went to look for a
national team t-shirt or something.

I went up and there is a little door that is always closed, where we put things. It was just open.

There was a chair and on top was the 10 of that Newell's t-shirt. I went in and saw it.

That door is always closed and I don't know what it was doing there actually, I didn't even
remember I had it. I saw it like this and I said: 'That's it.' It was incredible.

I hadn't been scoring many goals at that time and it wasn't that I scored goals every game and I
was sure. It happened that we were going two or three to nil and the goal wasn't given. Then
that play appeared out of nowhere."

Messi considers his participation in the 2026 World Cup very difficult. By that time he would
have turned 38. However, life is indeed unpredictable and he has not come to a final decision till
now.

On his plans for playing for the 2026 World Cup, Messi said “The truth is that I think about
this World Cup [in Qatar] and then I will see,Many things can happen, football is very
changeable. And honestly, it seems very difficult to me, but I have nothing clear.”