Messi: "I Deeply Regret Not Learning English From a Young Age"

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has expressed deep regret over not learning English, a sentiment he shared during an appearance on the "Miro de Atras" podcast.

Messi stated, "I regret many things, and one of the most important is that I didn't learn English when I was a child. I had time for it, but I didn't do it, and that's something I deeply regret."

He added that his lack of English proficiency sometimes made him feel "partially ignorant" in certain situations, especially when interacting with prominent figures in and outside the world of football, preventing him from communicating freely.

Messi also noted that his current experience in the United States, where English is widely spoken, has made him realize its value. He remarked, "When I was young, I didn't realize the importance of language for communication off the pitch, but the experience here has taught me a lot."

He further affirmed that he is passing this experience on to his children, encouraging them to seize educational opportunities and not waste them. "I try to teach my children to take advantage of every learning opportunity, so they don't face what I faced in the past," he explained.

Despite this linguistic regret, Messi emphasized that football itself has taught him many lessons and values throughout his career, which included stints at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain before his move to Major League Soccer. He concluded, "Football has taught me a great deal, and I am grateful for every experience I've had during my career."