Topics: La Liga, FC Barcelona, Argentina, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona
The Argentinean superstar revealed that 'El Pelusa' was the player he idolized as a child, motivating him to follow his footsteps.

Lionel Messi has marvelled fans all over the world with his skills, but he never acknowledged he was inspired by anyone during those years when he was growing up.

In an interview with an Argentinean magazine, "La Pulga" revealed that he was part of a generation which idolized Diego Armando Maradona, and his antics on the pitch inspired him to become one of football's top names right now.

"When I was growing up, Maradona had just returned to Argentina after a spell with Sevilla. He returned to Newell's (his boyhood club) in 1993, and he was able to take Argentina to another World Cup after a playoff. I can say without a doubt that, if someone inspired me to become a footballer, it was him," Messi stated.

As time has gone by, Maradona and Messi have been compared for their achievements on and off the pitch, and while Messi became a superstar with Barcelona, Maradona's performances with La Albiceleste cast a big shadow over the current No. 10 for the Argentines.

Maradona embraces Messi after Argentina's World Cup elimination in 2010.

Messi also made it clear that, for him, football is just a way of living.

"Football's not everything in my life. I dream like everybody else, I play when I have to do it, and I don't need to talk about it when I'm off the pitch. I'm not always aware of what happens when I'm not on the pitch," Messi added.

The Argentinean's performance in the Club World Cup is still doubtful, as sources indicate the player will have to undergo a surgery to remove kidney stones that prevented him of playing the tournament's semifinals.