Leo Messi: “I love playing football, it has been my passion since I was little. And when I’m in good form, I give everything I have on the field.”

“This is my sixth World Cup, and I still feel like I’m in good shape. Fortunately, I’m doing well, and today we managed to win a tough match. It’s important to start the tournament with a victory in the first game, as that’s never easy in a World Cup.

“We struggled in the first half, but fortunately we overcame that, and in the second half we created a crucial difference.

“As for my message to the fans, first of all, I thank them, because they’ve proven once again that Argentina is an exceptional case. They’ve filled the stadium again, I don’t know if there were 80,000 spectators or more.

“I thank them for all the effort they put in; wherever the tournament is, they’re always there, whether in Qatar or now in the United States. I know the fans make huge sacrifices.

“I hope they enjoy this moment and enjoy what happened today just as much as we do. And I repeat my thanks to them, because the feeling that we’re playing on home soil thanks to them always gives us a huge advantage.”