Can Messi Speak English? The Answer is No

Can Messi Speak English?

We’ve suspected it all along- Lionel Messi does not speak English. Despite taking language lessons since 2020, as stated in an interview with the BBC, Messi has always claimed that he gets too nervous when he has to answer questions in English, so he’d rather speak in his native Spanish.

Hailing from Argentina, he has spent the majority of his life living in Spain, playing for Barcelona FC. As he has spent the majority of his life only needing to know Spanish, it has become the only language he speaks. He can’t speak or understand English and needs an interpreter to translate it for him.

However, a recent AI-generated video of Messi answering a question in English went viral. The video comes from a website called HeyGen, which uses AI technology to create videos of celebrities speaking in different languages. The fragment corresponds to the prelude to the 2023 Leagues Cup final against SC Nashville, a match that Las Garzas won from the penalty spot after a 1-1 draw in regulation 90 minutes.

Una IA simuló a Lionel Messi, hablando en INGLÉS, en una rueda de prensa del Inter Miami.

Y salió esto. LOCURA. pic.twitter.com/P7VJSeMAEX

— Ataque Futbolero (@AtaqueFutbolero) September 11, 2023

What has really surprised and shocked everyone is the perfect synchronization between Messi’s voice and the movement of his lips, making it almost impossible to tell that the entire clip was created through artificial intelligence. While the video is quite impressive, it is important to note that it is not real.

Messi’s lack of English, however, hasn’t affected his performance on the field. He is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time and has won numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. Even though Messi now plays for Inter Miami, a team based in the United States where English is the primary language spoken, his inability to speak English has not been a problem for him or the team.

Also Read: Lionel Messi’s Arrival in Miami: His First Week in the City

Recently, his teammate DeAndre Yedlin talked about how Leo manages to communicate with the rest of the soccer players at Inter Miami: “His English is enough to keep going. He talks to everyone,” he explained.

He wasn’t the only one. Finnish Robert Taylor told Sky Sports: “I’m taking Spanish lessons, and he’s taking English lessons. Still, the conversation level isn’t great, but, on the field, it’s different.”

“I feel like football is a language where if you link up with someone, you don’t necessarily have to speak the same language – you just play well together. I’ve heard him say a couple of things in English to me and a couple of players around him, so I think he speaks pretty good English,” he added.

In 2019, Messi’s English-speaking skills were put to the test during the UEFA Champions League draw ceremony. In a memorable interview featuring both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the interviewer initially spoke in English with the Portuguese superstar and then attempted to include Messi in the conversation. 

However, it was evident that Messi was struggling to grasp the interviewer’s words. It was at this moment that both the interviewer and Ronaldo seamlessly switched to Spanish to ensure Messi stayed in the loop of the ongoing conversation.

Messi’s memorable phrases in Spanish

Throughout his career, Messi has pronounced a number of memorable phrases in his native Spanish tongue, with the most famous of these being: 

“¿Qué Mirás Bobo? Andá Pa’ Allá” (What are you looking at, silly? Go over there) (Messi addressing Dutch player Wout Weghorst after the tense victory against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.)

Hace 9 meses Messi hacia el Topo Gigio. Momento de locura total. pic.twitter.com/GhCLxbFUSt

— Ale Liparoti ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@AleLiparoti) September 9, 2023

“Van Gaal is trying to make us believe that he wants to play football well, and all he does is just play the long ball game.” (Messi answering former Dutch DT Louis Van Gall who criticized his game, after winning against their team in the quarter-finals.)

“Now all I want is to go to Argentina, enjoy the people, go to Rosario, sunbathe at home, with my wife by my side.” (Messi’s wishes after winning the World Cup)

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A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)

“I always talk to God; I thank him and ask him for the well-being of my loved ones. I had said it once…in an interview. I think it was before 2014. I said that I knew that God was going to give me a World Cup. I felt that he had this in store for me, and I think he was waiting for the moment. And there was no better moment than this, at the end of my career…”. (Messi after winning the World Cup).