Lionel Messi: I regret not learning English, I "can't forgive" myself
On the Miro de atras podcast Messi described not learning English as a lifelong regret that limited him off the pitch.
Lionel Messi said on the Miro de atras podcast that he deeply regrets never learning English, calling it a mistake from his youth that has held him back off the pitch as his playing career nears its end.
Regret over language learning
Speaking on the podcast on October 12, 2026, Messi reflected on opportunities he missed because of a language barrier. "I made a huge mistake in childhood, in my youth. I didn't learn to speak English. Now I regret it. I had the opportunity, the time, to do it. But I didn't. Many times I've been with incredible people in close proximity, and that language barrier stopped me from a lot of things. I honestly regret it," Messi said.
The Argentina captain-turned-legend is already playing for Inter Miami and leads Major League Soccer's scoring charts, but he acknowledged that aspects of life around football — meetings, relationships and certain public interactions — were affected by not mastering English earlier.
Messi also noted he has said goodbye to the Argentina jersey in recent times and is assessing how much longer he will remain on the field. Even at the top of MLS scoring lists, he described this linguistic shortcoming as a personal regret that caused “huge problems.”
The interview added an unexpected, personal angle to discussions about Messi's late-career priorities, as he balances club duties with family life and the question of how long he will continue playing professionally.
Photo: press material from the event
