18-goal striker rejected the opportunity to play alongside Messi in 2020: “Better to play against him”

Sharing the same field as Barcelona legend Lionel Messi unfolds into a dichotomy of experiences. It entails either shouldering the brunt of facing him as an adversary or reveling in the joy of receiving his precise passes and relishing victories as his accomplice.

Santiago Gimenez had the opportunity to opt for the latter, a privilege not many have enjoyed.

But the Argentine-born rejected the rare possibility and instead chose allegiances with the Mexican National Team.

Why he chose not to play alongside Messi

Gimenez recently provided journalist Cristian Martin via Mundo Deportivo with an explanation.

He claimed he could not base his decision solely on Lionel Messi, as his heart was always in Mexico.

 “I love Messi; I think he is the best player in history, but I was not going to make the decision for Messi; I was going to make it with my heart,” he exclaimed.

While Gimenez acknowledged Messi as the best to have ever kicked a football, he strangely stated that it would be better to be on the opposite end of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. He remarked:

“I am happy with the decision. My family made me doubt that I would look for him in Argentina, but my heart was not there, and today I am happy with the decision I made and what I can dream of with the Mexican team.

“I’m not lying; I love Messi; he’s an animal; he’s the best in history; but it’s better to play against him.”

With Lionel Messi’s iconic strike against Mexico in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar, those sentiments arguably do not hold the most weight.

Still, the former Barça number 10 is going strong with Argentina, intending to play in the upcoming Copa America tournament. As such, Gimenez may get to lock horns with him down the line.