Lionel Messi has opened up about one of his biggest personal regrets, not taking his education seriously enough while growing up, particularly missing the opportunity to learn English.
The 38-year-old Argentine captain and 2022 World Cup winner made the revelation during an appearance on the Mexican podcast Miro de Atras, where he reflected on his childhood and career journey.
According to the Inter Miami star, failing to study English has left him feeling limited in certain situations, especially when interacting with global personalities.
“I regret many things,” Messi said. “Not having learned English as a boy is one of them. I had the time to study it, at least to learn the basics, and I didn’t. I deeply regret that.”
He admitted that there were moments in his career when he found himself in the company of influential figures but struggled to communicate effectively.
“I experienced situations where I was with incredible and spectacular personalities, people I would have loved to sit and talk with and you feel half ignorant because you can’t express yourself,” he said. “I would think to myself, ‘What an idiot, how I wasted my time.’”
Now a father, Messi says he constantly reminds his children about the value of education and preparation for the future.
“When you’re young, you don’t realise how important it is,” he explained. “Today, I tell my children about having a good education, studying and being prepared. They have a different situation from the one I had, although I never lacked anything.”
Messi moved from Rosario, Argentina, to Barcelona at just 13 years old to join the famed La Masia academy. He described his final year of school in Argentina as chaotic, knowing he was about to relocate.
“It was a disaster,” he admitted. “I knew I was leaving for Barcelona. At Barcelona, I finished high school with the other boys at La Masia.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who joined Inter Miami in 2023 after a two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain, said that while he may regret certain missed opportunities in education, football itself has been a powerful teacher.
“I was able to reach the top in football, but along the way there were many lessons and experiences,” he said. “Football is a way of life. It teaches you values, creates lifelong bonds, and allows you to discover new places.”
Despite his glittering career, Messi’s reflections reveal a more personal side, one shaped not just by trophies and titles, but by lessons learned beyond the pitch.
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