By Luisa Calle | Billboard.com – February 21, 2024
From reggaeton and pop to Mexican music and cumbia, these are the soccer superstar’s favorite songs.
Fans no longer have to wonder what Lionel Messi listens to before he takes the field. Just in time for his inaugural season with Inter Miami in the MLS, La Pulga has shared a playlist of his favorite tracks. Titled “Messi: The Warm-Up,” the football superstar’s playlist, revealed by Apple Music, includes hits from Bad Bunny, Peso Pluma, Karol G, Bizarrap, Grupo Frontera and more.
“Music has always played a significant role in my life, especially on match days,” Messi shares in the Apple Music playlist description. “Music calms my mind, helping me maintain composure and relaxation.”
The 60-song playlist includes reggaeton hits such as “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, “Ay Vamos” by J Balvin and Karol G’s smash hit “Provenza.” It also reveals Messi’s taste for Mexican music, featuring songs from Carin León, such as “Según Quién” with Maluma, “Tiki Taka Toco” from Fuerza Regida and the 2023 hit “Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma.
It’s safe to say La Pulga is a fan of Grupo Frontera, as his playlist includes several of the band’s songs, including “No Se Va,” “un x100to” with Bad Bunny, “Bebe Dame” with Fuerza Regida and “TULUM” with Peso Pluma.
The playlist also features Latin music legends, including Celia Cruz’s “La Vida es un Carnaval” and Selena’s “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” as well as a handful of English-language songs such as Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music,” U2’s “Vertigo” and Drake’s “First Person Shooter” featuring J. Cole.
Messi also pays tribute to the diversity of Argentinian music, with hits ranging from Bizarrap’s “Music Sessions” featuring Young Miko, Quevedo, Milo J and Peso Pluma. The playlist also includes a bit of Argentine reggae with “Hijo” by Los Cafres, and cumbia with “Ya No Vuelvas” by Ke Personajes, La K’onga and Luck Ra.
“There’s no doubt that what Lionel Messi can do with a ball at his feet is otherworldly. But one thing that makes him just like the rest of us is his love for music, from Latin pop and rock to reggae and cumbia from his native Argentina,” reads the playlist’s description. “This exclusive playlist is inspired by the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) when he’s looking to concentrate.”
