"I'm happy because things went well for me and the national team won. I had very bad moments in the team during the qualifiers, when things didn't work out for me. Getting up today was very nice and I enjoyed a relaxed day," Messi said.
"The ball is very complicated for the goalkeepers and for us (players). I hope we gradually get used to it because we have no choice," he added in a news conference at Argentina's University of Pretoria camp.
"I played a bit deeper than I usually do to be closer to the midfielders...who gave me play and made me feel comfortable," Messi said.
"(In South Africa) everything changed, the mentality of the squad and my mentality. The time we've spent here has been good, it helped us a lot and we took advantage of it," he said.
Messi created at least half a dozen goal chances for himself and team mates but a fine performance from goalkeeper Victor Enyeama denied Argentina all but defender Gabriel Heinze's sixth-minute headed winner.
