Argentina are preparing for the 2024 Copa America, with La Albiceleste kicking off their title defense with an interesting clash with Alphonso Davies' Canada.
Ahead of this highly-anticipated game, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner sat down for a handful of interviews to discuss his career and personal life, including a talk on his nephew's YouTube channel 'Dispuestos a Todo'.
In it, he discussed an array of topics, ranging from his partnership with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo to the opponent he has clashed with the most. On that later topic, the Argentine icon named Sergio Ramos, to no one's surprise.
"With Sergio Ramos we fought a lot. He was the player I was most angry with. After that we were team-mates, but in the Clasicos we always clashed. The Clasicos were intense," Leo admitted, as per Marca.
With Copa America on the horizon, the Inter Miami ace also let out a few secrets about his national teammates, revealing that long-time comrade Nicolas Otamendi is the best-dressed Argentine player.
However, the Barcelona icon raised a few eyebrows when discussing the Argentina defeat that hurt him the most. La Albiceleste lost the FIFA World Cup and back-to-back Copa America finals in the span of three years between 2014 and 2016. However, Messi did not choose those fixtures.
Instead, La Albiceleste's all-time leading goalscorer named his nation's 2011 Copa America quarterfinal defeat to Uruguay as the elimination that pains him the most. That tournament was held in Argentina but the hosts bowed out in the last eight on penalties as fans from across the stadium booed La Pulga.
"I remember that in the Copa America 2011, in Santa Fe, I was booed from all corners. It was hard for me and the whole national team," the 36-year-old.
Fortunately, Leo made amends for his team's shortcomings, captaining them to the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophies.
Messi and Co. kick off their title defense on Thursday, facing Canada in the opening game of the tournament. Scaloni's men have the opportunity to become the first Argentine side to win back-to-back tournaments since winning three in a row between 1945 and 1947.