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Lionel Messi: 'I was asked to play for Spain'

By , Football Editor
Argentina international Lionel Messi reveals that he was asked to represent Spain during his early Barcelona career.

Lionel Messi has revealed that he was asked to represent Spain during his early Barcelona career.

The former Ballon d'Or holder qualified for Spanish citizenship at an early age after moving to Barcelona in the year 2000.

However, the 26-year-old has insisted that he only ever wanted to represent the country of his birth, Argentina.

"I was asked informally if I wanted to play for Spain, but I always said that I wanted to play for my national team because I love Argentina and these are the only colours I want to wear," he says in new book Messi, The Patriot.

Messi has scored 37 times in 83 games for his national team.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona26183571254657
2Real Madrid27176457263157
3Atletico MadridAtletico27168344182656
4Athletic Bilbao271310445242149
5Villarreal26128648361244
6Real BetisBetis2711883533241
7Mallorca27107102633-737
8Rayo Vallecano279992929036
9Celta Vigo27106114041-136
10Sevilla279993236-436
11Real Sociedad27104132328-534
12Getafe2789102322133
13GironaGirona2796123540-533
14Osasuna2671273237-533
15Espanyol2677122537-1228
16Valencia2769123045-1527
17Leganes2769122440-1627
18AlavesAlaves2768133040-1026
19Las PalmasLas Palmas2766153045-1524
20Real ValladolidValladolid2744191862-4416
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