Marcus Thuram, a striker who represents the French national team and plays for Inter, recounted meeting Lionel Messi when Thuram was just ten years old. His story, shared in a recent interview, highlights a memorable moment of connection between two generations of football greatness.
Thuram described how, after a training session, he wished to join the other boys on the pitch. He noticed that Messi, who was also on the field, wore shoes with a similar size to his own. Thuram said his size was 38, while Messi’s were around 40 or 41, a small detail that stuck with him in later years.
According to Thuram, Messi offered him his football boots, saying simply, Here. The young Thuram wore the boots and enjoyed a brief, formative moment on the field with a world-class player. He later reflected that, at ten years old, he did not fully grasp the significance of what had happened. The very next day, he handed the boots to a friend, a choice he now looks back on with a touch of regret. These memories emphasize how early encounters can leave lasting impressions—moments that shape a player’s respect and admiration for one of football’s all-time greats.
Messi’s long association with Barcelona began in 2003 and continued until 2021. Financial constraints within the Spanish league ultimately prevented a renewal of Messi’s contract at that time, leading to his departure and status as a free agent. During his tenure with Barcelona, Messi accumulated an extraordinary collection of trophies, including ten league championships, seven domestic cups, and four UEFA Champions League titles, underscoring his impact on the club and the sport.
In the aftermath of his Barcelona chapter, Messi moved to Inter Miami in the summer of 2023 after a two-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain. The decision marked a new phase in his career, culminating in August with a League Cup victory, signaling his ongoing influence in American football and his continued pursuit of success on new stages.
In a separate note, Thuram also discussed Messi’s standing in football’s awards landscape. He suggested that the Ballon d’Or distinction had been misaligned with Messi’s contributions at certain moments, a viewpoint that resonates with fans who recall Messi’s remarkable consistency and influence across his career, even beyond the club settings where he shone most brightly.