Hollywood actor Damson Idris has revealed that Lionel Messi played a surprising role in shaping his life, admitting the Argentine icon is the reason he walked away from football at just 18. Idris, best known for his role in Snowfall and his appearance in the much talked about F1 film alongside Brad Pitt, shared that he once had serious ambitions of becoming a professional footballer. He played competitively throughout his teenage years and saw a future in the sport before one moment changed everything. Speaking in a recent interview, Idris recalled watching Messi at his peak and instantly realising the gap between himself and the very best. “I wanted to be a footballer. I played up until the age of 18, and then I remember seeing Lionel Messi play. He was around 23 years old. “And I was like, ‘I’m never going to be as good as this guy.’ So Lionel Messi is the reason for my retirement in football,” he said.…