Barça's Messi: Playing for Spain never went through my head

In a long interview with 'Pasión por el fútbol', Leo Messi spoke about the possibility of representing Spain instead of Argentina when he was younger. 

"The other day I was talking to a friend and they said: 'If you'd have played for Spain, you would already have won the World Cup.' But it wouldn't have been the same. Obviously it never went through my head at any moment. Being a world champions with Argentina would be unique," Messi said. 

Messi is aware that Argentina will have a tough group at this World Cup in Russia: "We have a really complicated draw. Iceland showed they can compete with anyone at the last Euros, Croatia have a great midfield, like Spain but a level below and we always struggle against Nigeria. 

"I have a lot of faith in this group, though. We're working well, we have players with ability and experience, but we have to go slowly. We don't want to send the message 'We're going to win the World Cup because we're the best...' because the reality is we aren't. 

"There are various favourites at the moment. Brazil are one. Spain, Germany... they're some of the best teams right now. 

"Winning the World Cup is a huge personal challenge for me, for the group, for the country that dreams what we also dream. It's a nice responsibility to represent a whole country at a World Cup. I would change some Barcelona trophies for one with the national team. While I want to win things again with my club, I want to win one with the national team, I know it would be special for what it means, to be champions with Argentina would be different to everything, it would be something unique."