Messi describes each of his six Ballon d'Or awards as individually special

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS WHITE FLASHES

SHOWS: HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT NEAR BARCELONA, SPAIN (DECEMBER 11, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA CAPTAIN, LIONEL MESSI, ON WINNING THE BALLON D'OR, SAYING:

"The truth is that all are special, all are different. Each one has something special. This, I said at the time, is special for the moment in which I find myself on a personal and football level, so it is very special. They are all special, each one has its own little meaning and this one too."

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3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA CAPTAIN, LIONEL MESSI, ON EL CLASICO, SAYING:

"A very strong Real Madrid as it is and as they have been demonstrating, which has been very regular in recent games and in the Champions League. Barca (versus) Madrid, Madrid (versus) Barca are always separate games, special games that doesn't matter how one or the other arrives. Although I think we are both in a very good moment, these are games that go apart."

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5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA CAPTAIN, LIONEL MESSI, ON LAST SEASON'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT AGAINST LIVERPOOL, SAYING:

"To be honest, that is always there, but we must and we have to start from scratch because it is like that, a new year, a new competition. Obviously learning from the past and from mistakes, but thinking about the present and what is coming. Forget about what we experienced last year and the previous year, because it would be a mistake to fall into that again."

STORY: Barcelona captain and football superstar Lionel Messi tackled a range of questions during an event unveiling his new boots designed by German brand Adidas on Wednesday (December 11) in Barcelona.

With his recently won Ballon d'Or trophy also on show, Messi described each on his record six golden ball accolades that he has won as individually special.

The Argentine previewed next Wednesday's (December 18) El Clasico against Real Madrid, saying that both sides find themselves on good form.

On last season's dramatic Champions League semi-final exit against Liverpool, where they lost 4-3 on aggregate having held a 3-0 first leg lead, Messi admitted the emotions of that loss are "always there" but urged his team mates to learn from their mistakes and forget the experience.