FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has opened up about his move to the club 18 years ago, and revealed that it wasn't as easy as it may have seemed. 

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Since making his senior debut for Barca in 2004, Messi has become the club's all-time leading goalscorer and arguably one of the greatest players in football's history.

The 32-year-old is synonymous with the Catalan giants' recent success, but he had to overcome a number of challenges in order to achieve stardom.

"I was in Barcelona for about 15 days and then I returned to Argentina," Messi said in an interview with OTRO when speaking about his trial at the club.

"After a few months, they called me and I said yes, that I was willing to come. Let me come here and start my dream in Barcelona. It was a happiness for me and my family." 

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The Argentina international then explained that the move across continents was hard on his family, but added that he never thought of turning back.

"They were hard times, but it never crossed my mind to go home," Messi continued.

"My brothers had gone to Argentina, my sister's adaptation was the toughest of all, she was the smallest and it was hard for them, with school and everything.

"They decided that my mother would go to Argentina with her.

"I was alone, and they asked me what I wanted to do, if we stayed or left, that the decision was mine and that they would support me. I was always clear that I wanted to stay."

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Messi has since scored 612 goals in 699 appearances for the Blaugrana, and is a record-sharing five-time Ballon d'Or winner. 

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