When the year starts the objective is to win it all with the team, personal records are secondary.
I always had the same style of play. I didn’t really worry about people kicking me.
We are at a good level. Our secret is that we play the same way against each opponent.
Fatherhood changes you completely. If things didn’t go my way before, I became withdrawn and didn’t want to see or listen to anyone. Now, when I arrive home, I see my son and everything is OK. He’s the most important thing to me now.
Like I’ve said many times before, I’m always more likely to remember goals for their importance rather than if they’re beautiful or not. Goals scored in finals, for example.
I want to concentrate on winning things with Barcelona and Argentina. Then if people want to say nice things about me when I have retired, great. Right now, I need to concentrate on being part of a team – not just on me.
I’ve never stopped being Argentine, and I’ve never wanted to. I feel very proud of being Argentine, even though I left there. I’ve been clear about this since I was very young, and I never wanted to change.
I am more worried about being a good person than being the best football player in the world.
From the age of three, I played every day-morning, afternoon and night.
Argentina is my country, my family, my way of expressing myself. I would trade all of my records for the World Cup trophy.
Motivation is not something I struggle with. I love playing football, I love being in training.
My motivation comes from playing the game I love.
We know that we are close to making history.
I am the same person as always and I have the good fortune to play in a great team. It was an historic year for Barca and for me but it’s thanks to the work of everyone.
You can overcome anything, if and only if you love something enough.
I know how important it is to have a helping hand. In my childhood I had difficult times because of hormonal problems. If I hadn’t had support, I wouldn’t have been able to fulfill my dreams.
There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a happy and smiling child. I always help in any way I can, even if it’s just by signing an autograph. A child’s smile is worth more than all the money in the world.
You have to show up in the World Cup, and in the World Cup anything can happen.
I never think about the play or visualize anything. I do what comes to me at that moment. Instinct. It has always been that way.
One of the Arsenal players came up to me afterwards and said it had been an honor to be on the same pitch as me. I thought, My God, that is a great thing to say when your team has just lost.