Argentina football legend Lionel Messi has revealed that failing to learn English while growing up remains one of his biggest personal regrets, saying the missed opportunity has sometimes limited his ability to connect with influential people he has met throughout his career.
The Inter Miami forward made the admission during an interview on the Mexican podcast Miro de Atrás, where he reflected on the importance of education and taking advantage of opportunities at a young age.
Messi, who spent more than two decades at Barcelona before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and joining Major League Soccer side Inter Miami in 2023, said he had enough time to learn English as a child but failed to make use of it.
“I regret many things. To not have learned English as a boy. I had the time to have at least studied English and I didn’t do it. I deeply regret it,” Messi said.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner explained that his inability to speak English had sometimes made it difficult to engage in conversations with prominent personalities he encountered during his remarkable football journey.
“I experienced situations where I was with incredible and spectacular personalities to be able to talk and have a chat and you feel half ignorant. I always thought: ‘What an idiot, how I wasted my time,’” he added.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning captain said his experience had changed how he advises his children, urging them to take their education seriously and make the most of the opportunities available to them.
“When you’re young, you don’t realise it. Today that’s what I tell my children, having a good education, to study and be prepared,” he said.
“I always tell my children to take advantage of it. They have a different situation to the one I had, although I never lacked anything…”
Messi’s reflection offers a glimpse into the personal lessons he has drawn from a career that has brought him global recognition, major trophies and encounters with influential figures across different fields.
Despite his achievements on the pitch, the Argentine star’s comments highlight how skills acquired outside football, including language and education, can help people build relationships and make better use of opportunities.
His message to young people is straightforward: opportunities to learn should not be taken for granted, because the benefits may become clearer with time and experience.