Lionel Messi admits major career regret: “I should have learned English”

For nearly two decades, Lionel Messi has let his soccer do the talking.

But in a recent interview, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner revealed something far more personal than tactics or trophies. He regrets never learning English.

“I had the opportunity to learn English and didn’t take it. I regret that a lot,” Messi admitted, urging young people, including his own children, to prioritize education and preparation.

“Instead, you feel kind of ignorant” - Messi admits regret

Now playing for Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer, Messi is competing in a league where English dominates locker rooms, media rooms and commercial spaces. While he has always conducted interviews in Spanish and often relied on translators during his years at FC Barcelona and with the Argentina national football team, the move to the United States has amplified the language gap.

Messi has spent much of his professional life in Spanish-speaking environments. Barcelona’s dressing room was heavily Latin-influenced during his peak years, but MLS presents a different reality. From sponsorship events to league media obligations, English fluency carries a certain ease that he now admits he wishes he had.

Messi has conquered nearly every soccer-related challenge, but this is one of the few areas where he feels he came up short. He has never been known for dramatic public reflections and rarely dwells on “what if” scenarios. So this admission from Messi is very humanizing, even vulnerable.

It also reflects the evolution of his career. As a teenager, survival and success in elite soccer were the priority. Language skills likely felt secondary. But as his world expanded, from global ambassador to MLS superstar, communication became part of the role. In that sense, his regret is about missed opportunity in connection.

For younger players watching his path, the takeaway is clear. Talent opens doors. Preparation keeps them open. Messi has won everything there is to win. But even he can look back and wish he had done something differently.

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