Messi reveals reason why he walks on pitch during matches
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner explained that this habit dates back to his early days at Newell’s Old Boys, where he would often shirk running drills.
“When I was at Newell’s, there were two or three times a week we were sent to run around the grounds. I used to hide behind a tree. Running without a ball was never my thing,” Messi revealed.
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Messi elaborated that his walking is far from aimless. It is a deliberate tactic to analyze the game, understand the opponent’s positioning, and plan his next move.
“I have always been very self-critical. I am the first to know what I do right and what I do wrong. When I walk, I analyse the opponent’s positioning, how we stand when we don’t have the ball, get away from the marker and be able to initiate a counterattack,” he told Clank Media.
Despite the rise of data analytics in sports, Messi remains indifferent to GPS and statistics. “I don’t pay much attention to GPS, statistics or data. I never cared how much I ran in a match,” he added.
His approach continues to serve him well, allowing him to remain one of the most effective and unpredictable players in the game.
