MLS
Can Messi speak in English and how many languages does the Inter Miami player speak?
The Argentine star has lit up the MLS but can he connect with the spoken word in the same way he does with the ball?
Football players move from club to club, league to league, and country to country. The latter of these switches can often involve some pressure on the individual to learn the local language and culture, some taking it in their stride, others feeling well outside their comfort zone.
Did you know you can follow Messi in the Leagues Cup final live online on Apple TV.
Messi: from Argentina to the USA, via Spain and France
In the 2023 summer transfer window we have seen the usual private jet journeys carrying top stars, and lesser known ones, to pastures new, ocassionally crossing oceans to reach a continental change. One of the most high profile of these was Lionel Messi who swapped Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital for a challenge in Major League Soccer down in Florida with Inter Miami.
The Argentine, now 36 years old, began his journey in Rosario, Santa Fe. After spending five years at Newell’s Old Boys, he made his way to Barcelona, where he is widely regarded as the greatest player ever to grace The Beautiful Game. As his brilliance began to dim (and I emphasize ‘began’), coupled with increasing financial pressures at Camp Nou, Messi transitioned to France. He spent two seasons there before embarking on this nascent but highly impactful adventure in the United States.
Messi navigated through four countries, each with its own predominant language (Spanish, Catalan, French, and English). But the question remains: how many of these languages does he speak fluently?
Does Messi speak English?
The main question many people are currently asking giving the move to the MLS is whether or not he speaks English, knowing that Spanish is already a given. We’ve not yet had a press conference or television interview with the star, when many Americans will want to hear views straight from the horse’s, sorry, GOAT’s mouth, and not through a nearby translator. As teammate Deandre Yedlin said when he joined a few weeks ago, he had spoken in English but “not a whole ton” of it.
At Barcelona, the famous number 10 definitely got to grips with some Catalan, but there is little evidence that French ever got serious attention. Instead, English was said to be the focus while in Paris, and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo is reported to have helped him too as she speaks quite well. As far as we know, there have been no other classes of German, Chinese or Arabic over the Argentine’s years.
It can’t be too long before we get a taste of what he can say in English, but he may, like others, choose to offer managed and prepared phrases as he builds his confidence. With his ability to command a ball at will no matter the conditions, we have no doubt that he will master a few words to converse with his angloparlante counterparts. Let’s just hope that David Beckham isn’t teaching him!