Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, has been playing in the U.S. with Inter Miami for over a year, yet he admits he still doesn’t speak English fluently. While Messi understands English well, the football icon says he’s too shy to speak it publicly.
Messi’s humble personality, which matches his extraordinary football skills, is one reason he doesn’t seek attention or make bold statements. This humility is also reflected in his choice to continue using Spanish as his primary language of communication. Messi’s football journey began early when he left Argentina to join Barcelona, where Spanish was the dominant language, making it unnecessary for him to learn other languages.
Many expected Messi to spend his entire career at Barcelona, but due to the club’s financial struggles, he was forced to leave and joined PSG in 2021. Now playing in the U.S. with Inter Miami, Messi has continued using Spanish. This is partly due to the large Spanish-speaking community in Florida, making it comfortable for him to communicate without learning a new language.
In an interview with Abitare, Messi confessed, “I understand almost everything in English, but I’m too shy to speak it. I actually think I could speak it.” This highlights that the issue isn’t Messi’s lack of English knowledge, but rather his comfort level in using it.
Despite rarely speaking English publicly, there have been lighthearted moments when Messi has used the language in team environments. One amusing example comes from his Inter Miami teammate, Julian Gressel. Gressel shared that during a game, Messi approached him and, for the first time, spoke in English. Covering his mouth, as he often does, Messi joked, “My English is pretty good, right?”
Messi’s modesty and low-key personality likely explain why he doesn’t speak English more often, even though he has the ability to do so. His primary focus remains on football and his success on the pitch, rather than mastering a new language. With many Spanish-speaking teammates and staff around him, Messi doesn’t feel the need to change his communication style.
As Messi continues to lead Inter Miami in their MLS campaign, his language preference doesn’t seem to hinder his performance or connection with the team. Recently, Inter Miami’s efforts to secure a top spot in MLS faced a setback with a late-game draw against New York City, but Messi’s presence continues to elevate the team’s performance and morale.
