Overview
- Federer called himself a Messi fan and said the Argentine “dominated and changed” football.
- He said winning the 2022 World Cup relieved a burden for Messi heading into the next tournament.
- He noted he has met Messi only once and recalled meeting the player’s parents in Tigre during a visit to face Juan Martín del Potro.
- He plans to follow the 2026 World Cup closely and said he might attend as a spectator since Switzerland qualified.
- He referenced a longstanding respect, following his 2023 Time tribute to Messi and Messi’s public praise when Federer retired in 2022.