Messi opens up on sacrifices as film celebrates Barca star’s rise to greatness

From humble beginnings in Argentina, Lionel Messi hasn’t just forged a successful career in football – he’s become one of the all-time greats.

With a record six Ballon d’Or awards, 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League triumphs, plus having notched 70 goals in 138 games for his country, Messi is a man who inspires greatness.

And the Barcelona superstar has linked up with Budweiser to share his journey in the hope to inspire the next generation.

The 33-year-old ace stars in a short film with the King of Beers, who have also revealed the soon to be released limited-edition Lionel Messi bottle.

‘They Say’ is a short film designed to inspire fans to never give up on greatness by highlighting Messi’s remarkable rise as he heads into his 20th season in professional football.

Messi said: “I’m excited to partner with Budweiser to share my journey that was based on a determination to be the best player I can be.

“Day after day, year after year, it took sacrifice and hard work to reach my dreams.

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“Hopefully fans around the world will find inspiration in my story to commit to their craft and never give up on greatness, no matter how hard the journey.”

Messi has recently returned to Barca training as he continued to move on from his aborted attempt to leave the club last month.

Messi, who remains captain despite publicly declaring he wished to leave the club and lashed out at president Josep Maria Bartomeu, resumed training with the team on Monday after refusing to report back eight days previously while he continued to seek a departure.

But the Argentine announced last Friday that he would stay at Barca for this year as he did not want to challenge the club in court over a disputed clause in his contract which he argued allowed him to leave without a transfer fee.

Barca are sitting out the first two weeks of the new Spanish top-flight campaign due to participating in last month’s Champions League, where they were humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

Ronald Koeman’s side play Gimnastic de Tarragona on Saturday in a friendly and then Girona next Wednesday before their first competitive game against Villarreal on September 27.