Lionel Messi: “My idol and my role model in football is and will remain…”, when the Pulga zaps Maradona and Ronaldinho

Before becoming the star that all young footballers dream of being like, Lionel Messi was also a young player who dreamed of looking like another footballer.

During his childhood, the Argentinian mainly had one player who thrilled him every time he watched him play.

This is the former Argentinian international and former River Plate player, Pablo Aimar.

The latter was the idol and model of the current captain of the Argentinian selection when he was still at the Barça training center and dreamed of becoming a footballer.

While there were other players more popular than Pablo Aimar at the time, Lionel Messi was impressed by the profile of the player who played for Valencia FC.

Neither Ronaldinho, much less Maradona, was the Inter Miami striker’s main idol.

Even if Pulga still respected its great players, the one who thrilled him the most was the former Benfica Lisbon attacking midfielder.

“My idol or my role model in the world of football is and will always remain Pablo Aimar.

I have always had great admiration for him since I was little, he is the player I loved watching play.Messi once indicated.

Since 2018, Messi and Pablo Aimar have regularly rubbed shoulders in the national team, because the latter is part of the technical staff of the Argentina national team.