In a rare, reflective interview, Lionel Messi has confessed to a surprising career regret: not collecting more shirts from the game’s greatest legends—including some of his own iconic teammates.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner revealed a sentimental side that fans rarely see, admitting that he was often too shy, too focused, or simply too young to ask for the jerseys of the idols who surrounded him.
“I really regret not exchanging shirts with many of my teammates, like Ronaldinho, Xavi, Iniesta…” Messi said. “Also with rivals like Roberto Carlos, David Beckham and Ronaldo Nazário. I would’ve loved to ask for their shirts back in the day.”
The confession has sent a ripple through the football world, given that Messi shared a dressing room with some of the sport’s all-time greats during Barcelona’s golden era. While fans assumed the Argentine superstar would have naturally collected memorabilia from his legendary colleagues, Messi suggests the opposite was true.
The Teammates He Never Asked
Messi joined Barça’s first team in 2004 as a shy 17-year-old. According to those close to him, he was often in awe of Brazilian magician Ronaldinho, who took him under his wing. Yet rather than asking for a jersey, Messi preferred to soak in the moment.
“With Ronaldinho, Xavi, and Iniesta, I played alongside them every day,” Messi explained. “You think the chance will always be there. Then one day, they’ve left the club, and you realize you never asked.”
Xavi and Iniesta, the midfield architects of Spain’s World Cup win and Barcelona’s tiki-taka dynasty, were daily mentors. Yet Messi never requested their match-worn shirts—a rarity for a player who now has his own jerseys enshrined in museums worldwide.
The Rivals He Let Slip Away
Perhaps more striking are the rival shirts Messi wishes he’d chased. Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos, famous for his thunderous free-kicks, faced Messi in El Clásico several times. David Beckham, first at Real Madrid and later at Paris Saint-Germain, was another adversary Messi admired from afar.
But the biggest regret appears to be Ronaldo Nazário—the original “Ronaldo”—whom Messi has long cited as an idol.
“I grew up watching Ronaldo,” Messi said. “When I played against him, I was still finding my place in the world. It never felt like the right moment to ask. Now I’d give anything for one of his Brazil shirts.”
A Collector’s Irony
The irony is not lost on fans. Messi’s own shirts have become priceless artifacts—the black-and-pink Paris Saint-Germain jersey from the 2022 World Cup final alone sold at auction for $7.8 million. Yet the player who has inspired millions to collect his shirts never built his own collection of the heroes who came before him.
When asked if he still tries to acquire missing jerseys, Messi smiled. “No. It’s too late for some. But I tell the young players now: don’t be shy. Ask for the shirt. One day, you’ll want to remember.”
As for whether he’d swap a current jersey for a vintage Ronaldinho or Ronaldo Nazário original? “In a heartbeat,” Messi said. “But I think they know how I feel.”
