According to Marca, Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg believes that Messi carries the expectations of an entire nation while enduring immense pressure.

Messi's retirement from the Argentine national team has attracted attention both inside and outside the football world. Wahlberg, who has appeared in films such as "Ted," "Daddy's Home," and "Transformers," also commented on the Argentine captain's decision.

In an interview with the New York Daily News, Wahlberg said: "I can only imagine the pressure and anxiety he must be under, carrying the expectations of an entire nation, especially given how important football is to Argentinians. The pressure is immense, and it must be very, very anxiety-inducing."

While promoting his new film "All In" with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wahlberg also discussed the possibility of Messi participating in the next World Cup. He stated: "I don't think he's going to wait another four years for the World Cup. It's incredible that he's still playing, and he performed exceptionally well in the World Cup. Just a few days ago, he scored four goals for Inter Miami."

The original text noted that the match took place on August 29, where Inter Miami defeated Canadian team Montreal 7-1, with Messi scoring four goals.

Regarding Messi's impact since joining MLS, Wahlberg joked: "He's teaching them how to play. How many goals today? Four or five? No problem."

Wahlberg also said that he has grown to appreciate football more since the last World Cup. In his opinion, American fans' enthusiasm is often tied to the national team's performance: "If the US team wins a few games, everyone will wear jerseys; once they lose, everyone will say, 'We don't like football.'"

When asked about rumors of Neymar potentially joining Inter Miami in 2027, Wahlberg said: "So, they only truly relax when they come here."

Wahlberg noted that Messi ended his more than 20-year career with the Argentine national team, during which he won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions in 2022, and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Beyond age and physical condition, Wahlberg believes that representing the national team for so long and carrying the expectations of millions of people may have imposed a heavy emotional burden on Messi.

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