‘It’s a pity that we couldn’t play together,’ he said in the chat facilitated by adidas. ‘This is the moment for me to pass you the ball.’

He added at a different point, ‘Today is a very important day for me because I can tell him how much I admire him… I think it is magic, pure magic.’

Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi sat down for a conversation organized by adidas

Messi attempts to tackle Zidane in a 2005 game between Barcelona and Real Madrid

Messi returned the praise, saying,’ I have always admired him and liked him a lot. I followed him a lot in Madrid. And he made made me suffer a lot too because I was from Barcelona.’

The pair later exchanged signed Argentina and France shirts.

Zidane played for Los Blancos from 2001-06, while Messi debuted for Barcelona‘s first team in 2004 and spent 17 years at the club.

The pair faced off in El Clasico in 2005, while Messi also frequently went against Zidane as a coach.

The 51-year-old was the manager of Madrid from 2019-21.

The Argentine also spoke about the late Diego Maradona, who he looked up to as a kid.

Zidane and Messi exchanged signed international shirts at the end of the conversation

Antonela Roccuzzo and Lionel Messi with sons Thiago, Mateo and Circo at the Ballon d ‘Or 2023 Ceremony

‘During our whole lives, those of us who grew up playing football wanted to be like him,’ he said.

‘Although no one was able to be like him, that was our dream and desire, and try to copy what Maradona did.’

And bringing things back to the present, Messi discussed how his sons Thiago, 11, Mateo, 8 and Ciro, 5, are already obsessed with the sport.

‘My children love it. The three of them love it. They are passionate about football,’ he said. ‘The three of them, all day long.’