Messi: 'Argentina is my country, my family and my way of expressing myself'

Messi opened his interview with 'La Nacion' by saying: ''I am from a neighborhood like any other, that stays the same as always. Rosario is the place where I was born, and I spent my childhood there very happily, and that will never change despite goals or fame.''

The Argentine revealed anecdotes of his childhood, and noted that his love for football began at a very early age. He recalled: ''Where I grew up, I learned to play football and to love the game. My mother would send me to run errands, but I only went if they let me do them with the ball.''

He also noted who first encouraged him into the sport in the first place, he said: ''I don't know if my first ball was bought by my parents or my grandmother, Celia, but I am sure that she was the one who insisted that I start playing football in a team.'' 

The Barca star also commented on why he never considered playing for Spain: ''Argentina is my country, my family and my way of expressing myself. They always ask me why I don't have the Spanish accent after all this time, and the answer is simple. I don't want the Spanish accent or to lose the identification I have with my country.'' 

Certainly, nobody can question Leo Messi's commitment to his country as Argentina kick-off their World Cup bid against Iceland on 16th June.