Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi, has said his children have fostered his lesson to overcome the pain of defeat on the football pitch.

Messi was desperate to add a fifth Champions League title to his collection this season but was distraught at his side’s capitulation to Liverpool, before suffering further heartbreak in the Copa del Rey final against Valencia.

The Argentine superstar has a wife, Antonella, together with three sons: Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.

Talking about life after defeat, he told FOX Sports Argentina that fatherhood has given him a more mature outlook to life.

“The defeats hurt but I deal with them in another way.

“When Thiago was born [in 2012] I understood that the priorities are different and not just the result of a game.

“It hurts a lot to lose but I get to my house and I see my children and my wife and it passes.

“Before that, I came home and I locked myself up and I did not want to watch TV and I did not eat.

“Now I have a duty to be at the table with my children. I still suffer but I handle it in another way,” he told FOX Sports Argentina.