Lionel Messi has surprised fans by speaking a longer sentence in English for the first time in a new video, marking a rare occasion where the legendary footballer steps outside his usual languages of Spanish and Catalan. Messi, known for his unparalleled talent on the field, has primarily communicated with the media and his fans in his native languages. However, in 2021, during an interview with journalist Guillem Balague, Messi revealed that he had been learning English for about a year and a half, sparking speculation about a possible move to an English-speaking club.
At the time, many thought Messi’s English lessons might be tied to rumors of a transfer to Manchester City, a team in the Premier League. However, that move never materialized, and instead, Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain before eventually moving to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). Although English is the most widely spoken language in the United States, Miami has a large population of Spanish speakers, meaning Messi’s Spanish has still served him well both on and off the field.
Despite living and playing in an English-speaking country, there had been limited public examples of Messi speaking English. Some reports suggested that Messi does, in fact, speak the language, with his Inter Miami teammate Julian Gressel once mentioning that Messi is capable of speaking English. But for a long time, fans hadn’t actually heard it themselves. This curiosity led to some amusing moments, including a fan-made artificial intelligence (AI) video that showed Messi answering questions in English during a fake press conference.
Earlier in the year, Messi did give fans a brief glimpse of his English skills when he said “Bad Boys” in an advertisement for the Super Bowl, where he appeared alongside actors Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The moment was short, and while fun, it wasn’t quite the extended English-speaking experience fans had been hoping for.
Messi’s First Full English Sentence Leaves Fans Excited and Amazed
Now, that moment has finally arrived, thanks to Messi’s involvement in a promotional video for Konami’s eFootball game. As part of his partnership with the gaming giant, Messi addressed the audience with a clear message in English, saying, “Be a FIFAe champion.” This new sentence, though brief, immediately caught the attention of fans, who were thrilled to hear Messi communicate in a language that he has rarely used in public.
Messi’s message came as part of Konami’s campaign, with eFootball recently becoming the official esports partner of FIFA, replacing EA Sports. The game now plays a key role in hosting two FIFAe World Cup tournaments, and the in-game qualifiers have already begun, with Messi serving as one of the prominent figures in the promotion.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s words in English quickly went viral, with fans taking to social media to share their excitement. One fan joyfully exclaimed, “We finally got him speaking English!” Another added, “Greatest English I’ve ever heard spoken,” while others chimed in with comments like “Best English speaker of all time” and “We got Messi speaking English before GTA VI.” The reactions show just how much anticipation there was among Messi’s global fanbase for him to speak in English.
For many, this moment represents something beyond just Messi trying a new language. It feels like a connection to a wider audience, offering fans who may not speak Spanish or Catalan a more personal interaction with the football star. Even though Messi’s time in the United States has been marked by plenty of success on the field, it’s moments like this that demonstrate his growing adaptability off the field as well.
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