Lionel Messi could have been eligible to represent TWO teams at Euro 2024 if he never played for Argentina
LIONEL MESSI could have played for two nations at Euro 2024.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is currently representing Argentina at the Copa America.
Messi, 37, won the tournament in 2021 and lifted the World Cup a year later.
But in a parallel universe, the Barcelona legend could have been lining up to the Spanish national anthem instead of the Argentinian one.
Messi signed for Barca at the age of 13 and lived there for five years before making his La Albiceleste debut.
And, during that period, the Spanish FA reportedly tried to get him to switch allegiances.
Messi is eligible for Spain via his great grandfather, who was born in Catalonia, and he had relatives already living there when he first touched down in Barcelona.
Despite “informal talks” with Spain’s FA, he opted for Argentina.
Meanwhile, reports claim that Messi is also eligible for Italy.
He supposedly would have qualified for an Italian passport through a great grandfather who lived there centuries ago.
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His relative left Italy for the Argentine city of Rosario in 1883.
There was never any talks with Azzurri chiefs about pulling on the iconic blue shirt.
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It may be painful for both Italy and Spain not to have Messi in their side.
But both have won the World Cup during his international career in 2006 and 2010 respectively.