Andy Murray explains how Lionel Messi and Argentina World Cup win inspires him to not retire from tennis
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Updated 21/12/2022 at 15:06 GMT
Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray says seeing Lionel Messi lead Argentina to World Cup glory helps “motivate” him because the footballer proved he can still perform at the highest of levels at 35 years old. Murray is the same age as Messi and has slowly been on the up after coming close to retirement in 2019. He is currently ranked world No. 49 going into 2023.
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Andy Murray has explained Lionel Messi and Argentina’s World Cup win motivates him to “keep going” and not retire from tennis.
Murray, who is the same age as Messi at 35 years old, nearly retired in 2019 due to a hip injury which threatened the end of his career.
He returned to action though and has slowly been climbing the ranks over the last three years and is ranked inside the top 50 going into 2023.
“I was really happy for him [Messi] that he was able to finally win the World Cup when he was seen as not having done it at international level,” said Murray in Aberdeen ahead of the Battle of the Brits.
“Which was strange considering that Argentina won the Copa America not long ago and have been in multiple finals and stuff.
“The age that he's at as well – he's 35 and born in the same year as me. Seeing any athletes in their mid-to-late 30s going out there and competing and performing and doing what they love is brilliant."
The three-time Grand Slam champion was rated among the so-called “Big Four” during the peak of his career, but the retirement of Roger Federer and discussion about how long Rafael Nadal will continue to play means Murray’s time could also soon be up.
However, the performances of older athletes in sport such as Messi and Nadal this year have helped Murray into thinking there are no plans for retirement yet.
“I've had the opportunity to witness that a bit in tennis as well recently,” he continued. “Whether that's Serena [Williams] or Federer and Nadal.
“I find that it gives me motivation to keep going and keep trying to perform as best I can.”
Murray is a big fan of Messi and watched him play during his junior years at Barcelona.
However, he didn’t want to get involved on whether he was football’s GOAT even though he questioned on Twitter whether Messi was the best athlete of all time.
“I hate all the GOAT [greatest of all time] debates that go on,” said Murray. “They’re so painful, but I just think he's amazing at what he does.
“Because of the size of football and how many people play it, he has to be considered as one of the best athletes of all time, and what he's done over such a long period is incredible.”
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