"I Felt Like an Ignorant Person"... "God of Football" Messi Admits to English Complex

Expresses Regret Over Missed Communication With Famous Figures
"Make the Most of Every Opportunity"
Advice Emphasized to His Three Sons

Argentinian football star Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF, known as the "God of Football," has revealed that he regrets not studying English when he was younger.

On the 25th (local time), ESPN reported that Messi appeared on the Mexican podcast "Miro de Atras" and said, "I had plenty of opportunities to learn English as a child, but I didn't. I deeply regret it."

Although Messi met many famous people while playing as a world-class player, he confessed that there were moments when he felt frustrated by being unable to communicate fully due to the language barrier. Messi said, "There were opportunities to have conversations with great people, but when I couldn't, I felt like an ignorant person," adding, "I wondered why I hadn't made better use of my time."

In a Major League Soccer (MLS) match in the United States, Lionel Messi (left) is having a conversation with Son Heungmin. Photo by Yonhap News

Messi started his life in Europe at the age of 13 when he joined the youth team of Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona. He described his school days as a "disaster," regretting that he did not make the most of his educational opportunities.

These experiences have influenced Messi's approach to his children's education as well. Messi, who has three sons with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo, said that he emphasizes the importance of education to his children. Messi stated, "I always tell my kids how important it is to be prepared," and "I tell them to make the most of every opportunity given to them."

Messi also talked about the lessons he learned through football. He said, "Football is not just a sport but a way of life," and "It taught me many values and relationships and helped me learn about the world."

Meanwhile, Messi's long-time rival, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr FC, is known to speak not only Portuguese but also English and Spanish.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.