Messi regrets not having studied English and reflects on his education
Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has expressed regret for not paying more attention to his studies when he was young, especially regarding learning English.
The captain of the Argentinian national team and winner of the 2022 World Cup admitted to feeling “somewhat ignorant” when encountering famous personalities throughout his impressive career and not being able to communicate fluently.
“I regret many things. Not having learned English as a child. I had time to have studied at least English and I didn’t do it. I deeply regret it.”
Lionel Messi
Messi recounted experiences in which he encountered incredible and spectacular personalities, wishing he could converse with them more effectively. “I always thought: ‘How idiotic, how I wasted time'”, he commented.
The Argentine star emphasized the importance of education for his children, urging them to take advantage of the study opportunities that he did not have. “When you are young, you don’t realize it. Today that’s what I tell my children, [the importance of] having a good education, studying and being prepared,” he added.
Messi, who arrived at Barcelona from his hometown, Rosario, at the age of 13, described his last year of school in Argentina as “a disaster”. However, he completed high school in Barcelona with other young people from La Masia, the club’s youth academy.
In addition to his reflections on education, Messi highlighted the valuable lessons that football has given him. “I was able to do everything and reach the top [in football], but along the way there are many experiences and lessons learned,” said the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. “It’s true that football is a way of life. It teaches you a lot, gives you many values. It creates lifelong bonds. You get to know places.”
