Argentine superstar Lionel Messi refuses to concede that he is one of the greats of global football history, as many claim, and stresses that at age 22 he still has a lot to achieve, dpa reported.
"To become a legend, to be great, you also have to win a World Cup," he said in an interview that the Spanish daily El Mundo partially published Tuesday.
His hat-trick Sunday in Barcelona's 4-2 win against Zaragoza, Messi's second consecutive hat-trick in La Liga, and the beauty of his goals made spectator and the media pour generous praise on the young striker.
The hype included a debate as to whether Messi is actually already better than Argentine football legend (and current Argentina coach) Diego Maradona.
"I'm only 22. Everything is happening really fast and I have to stay calm," Messi stressed.
Always modest, the player - whose performances with Argentina have always been the target of strong criticism - said he had been "lucky to win many things" with Barcelona.
Messi always played down the skill he displayed in his second goal against Zaragoza, one of those mazy runs that have already become his trademark as a footballer.
"It just turned out like that. I do not think about those moves, or work on them beforehand. What is important is to try," he said. "I never try to disrespect anyone. I just play football, my way."