Messi: Says he still has plenty to learn

Messi already sits among the pantheon of all-time greats but he maintains that his philosophy will always be to try and play in the right manner rather than focus on results.

He is proud to be part of a Barcelona team that shares his vision and, at the age of 24, is looking forward to keeping crowds entertained for many years to come.

"Football is a game. I'm trying to have fun on the pitch, always just to play. That's why I do it. The day I stop having fun is the day I retire," the Argentine superstar told The Times.

"I never want to lose that spark, that passion.

"Today teams are playing more statically, more for the final score than producing good football.

"For them it's more important to win than to play well. We need more players with passion coming up for the good of football."

Messi appreciates everything Barcelona have done for him since he arrived at the club as a schoolboy but believes there is still room for improvement as both a player and a person.

"I am playing for one of the best teams in history," he said.

"I'm very grateful for everything I've been able to achieve, for the family I have, for the people who surround me.

"But I always believe better things will come, I want to grow and mature as a person. I still have so much to learn. I am the way I am at every moment. I am not playing a role.

"It makes it easier to be myself. I don't have to watch what I do. I just do what I do. And remember I am only 24 years old."

While Messi says his enthusiasm for the game makes him the player he is, there have still been some painful moments in his career.

He admits he is still haunted by the penalty he missed in the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Chelsea last season, when Barcelona failed to press home their numerical advantage following John Terry's red card in the second leg.

"I felt terrible," he said. "Angry at myself because I knew that at that moment the whole tie was in my hands, but I can't do anything about it now.

"It's past but it was a very tough moment for me and I still think about it."