Frenkie de Jong waxes lyrical over Lionel Messi: ‘The perfect footballer’

The ongoing FIFA World Cup has not been particularly kind to Barcelona’s captains so far, with three of them facing a fitness concern in some capacity.

While Raphinha was seriously injured earlier today, Ronald Araujo is yet to feature for Uruguay after facing a fitness setback in the build-up to the event.

The third captain affected was none other than Frenkie de Jong, who is not at his 100% but still started for the Netherlands in their mammoth win over Sweden today. He played 60 minutes and finished with 96% passes completed.

De Jong speaks about his football beginnings

Speaking to the media (h/t FCBWorld) in a recent interview, the Barcelona captain opened up on what football meant to him and how loving the game was very important as a professional player.

“Football is the most enjoyable secondary thing in life for me,” he began.

“I still dream about football regularly. I still find the game itself just as enjoyable as it was when I was a child. I always used to play football during breaks, and when I got home, I’d play it in the street,” he added.

De Jong is going to be key for the Netherlands’ hopes at the World Cup. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Remembering his origins as a footballer, the Dutchman spoke of how he started out and how he still enjoyed the game exactly the same.

“From the age of seven or eight, I started training twice a week, then at some point three times, then four times, and then, of course, it increased more and more. But every moment I was at home, I would already go out to play football with friends.”

“It’s still my hobby, even though it’s my job. I enjoy just playing football so much and I can really immerse myself in it completely, and I feel so much pleasure. It’s, for me, the most fun secondary thing in life,” he added.

Despite everything, De Jong acknowledged that playing at the highest level did come with some unavoidable pressure.

“Of course, there’s a lot more at stake compared to just playing football with your friends in a playground. But the feeling once you start playing football is still almost the same.”

“I can also enjoy it when you go into a one-on-one tackle and win it, or when you intercept a ball—I can enjoy that too. But what I really enjoy the most is playing with the ball and the attacking part.”

On Lionel Messi

The Barcelona captain was then asked to comment on Lionel Messi who scored a brilliant hat-trick earlier this week. 

“For me, Messi is simply the perfect footballer. He’s of course a completely different player from me, but I’ve always watched him more than anyone else,” he said in awe of the star.

De Jong a huge admirer of the GOAT Messi. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

He then spoke on how he grew up watching Messi in Guardiola’s team, saying,

“I was always watching a lot of Barcelona matches under Guardiola’s leadership. I think that’s the football I enjoyed more than any other.”

“There were some players from that time whom I followed and looked up to as a fan, and whom I later got to play alongside. So for me, this is really something special,” he concluded.

On the FIFA World Cup

Finally, the player was asked if he dreamt of winning the World Cup and what he made of his side’s chances in the competition.

“I think everyone dreams of that, and so do I. So yes, I’ve imagined this dream in front of me a few times,” he began, placing his side as contenders.

Speaking on how the World Cup was one of the most prestigious trophies in the sport, the Dutchman said,

“The final tournaments with your national team, and especially the World Cups, are the most standout thing for a football player. The goal is simply to win them, and that’s why you participate.”

“I also think we have a team that should have this as its goal. Because of course some teams know in advance that, in principle, they won’t win. But I think we are already one of the teams that has a real chance,” he added on his team’s chance.