What languages does Messi speak? Find out all the languages Messi speaks

What languages does Messi speak? Find out all the languages Messi speaks

Kevin Omuya
updated at September 5, 2023 at 3:33 PM

Football star Lionel Messi currently represents Major League Soccer team Inter Miami CF. He plays as a forward for the Argentine national team and is the team's captain. He is frequently cited as the best player in the beautiful game's history. After a lengthy stint with Barcelona, the superstar moved on to PSG of the French League and then to Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer. What languages does Messi speak?

What Languages Does Lionel Messi Speak?
Lionel Messi, the captain of FC Barcelona, gives a speech to the crowd before the Pre-Season Friendly between FC Barcelona and Arsenal at Nou Camp on August 4, 2019, in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: Matthew Ashton
Source: UGC

The Inter Miami striker is a native Spanish speaker; this is to be expected, given his background (he is originally from Argentina and has lived in Barcelona for over 20 years). Spanish and Catalan are among the few languages where the 'little magician' is fully proficient. Catalan is the de facto language of Catalonia, the self-governing region of which Barcelona serves as the capital.

What languages does Lionel Messi speak?

Born in Rosario, Argentina, Lionel speaks Spanish as his native. In Argentina, as in the rest of South America, the entire population is fluent in Spanish. Only Guyana, where English is the official language, French Guiana, where French is the official, and Brazil, where Portuguese is the official, are exceptions.

Until he was 13, Messi called Argentina home. After that, he took a trial at the Barcelona Football Academy and moved there permanently.

His ancestors hail from the Catalonia region of Spain, so he also speaks Catalan. It is not his native tongue, but early exposure helped him become proficient. Catalonia is a province in Spain, so it makes sense that the language would have more in common with French.

What language do Messi and Mbappe speak?

What Language Does Messi And Mbappe Speak?
Lionel Messi of PSG and Argentina (R) and Kylian Mbappé of PSG and France during The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022 at Salle Pleyel on February 27, 2023, in Paris, France. Photo: Brendan Moran
Source: Getty Images

Mbappe is the type of player who everyone likes. The fact that he speaks Spanish simplifies matters for everyone involved. Messi was previously quoted saying,

"And Kylian speaks fluent Spanish, so we can communicate well even when we're not on the field together."

What languages can Messi speak?

Lionel Messi is bilingual, with a command of both Spanish and Catalan. He has a limited vocabulary and can only understand a few simple English phrases. Since he is one of the best soccer players in the world and plays in Spain, he does not need to learn the language. His native Argentina also uses Spanish as its official language.

Rosario, Argentina, is the place of Lionel Messi's birth. His first language was Spanish, the official language of Argentina and several other South American countries. His family moved him from Argentina to Spain when he was 13 years old so he could train with FC Barcelona.

Can Messi speak English?

What Languages Does Lionel Messi Speak?
Luciano Acosta (10) of FC Cincinnati speaks with Lionel Messi (10) of Inter Miami before a U.S. Open Cup semifinal match at TQL Stadium on August 23, 2023, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Photo: Jeff Dean
Source: Getty Images

The Inter Miami CF captain does not communicate in English. The footballing genius is not a native English speaker but has picked up a few words. This is not shocking, considering how little he has in common with the English. Fans of Cristiano Ronaldo often point out that the Argentine, who has spent most of his life in Barcelona, Spain, has never made his mark in the English-speaking world, which they believe is decisive in the GOAT debate.

What language do Messi And Ronaldo speak?

What Language Do Messi And Ronaldo Speak?
FIFA Ballon d'Or nominee Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid sits with FIFA Ballon d'Or nominee Lionel Messi of Argentina and Barcelona during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. Photo: Alexander Hassenstein
Source: Getty Images

Lionel Messi may be able to communicate effectively in both Spanish and Catalan. He can barely understand a handful of common English expressions. He has also mastered the local language in his current location in Argentina.

Footballers who are not native English speakers, like Cristiano Ronaldo, who has spent most of his career in the English Premier League and its lower divisions, often pick up the language and become fluent speakers. In the widely viewed UEFA Champions League draw interview, the Argentine sits next to his rival, Ronaldo, and the audience can see he does not speak English.

What language do Messi and Neymar speak?

What Languages Does Messi  Know?
Lionel Messi (10) of Inter Miami CF speaks during a press conference at DRV PNK Stadium on August 17, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Photo: Megan Briggs
Source: Getty Images

Despite his claims to the contrary, Neymar does not speak English very well. He picked up English while playing on a team where his native tongue was not English, and now he can hold his own in conversations with his teammates. Neymar speaks more than just English, though. He was teammates with the Argentine in FC Barcelona and PSG.

How many languages does Messi speak?

Lionel frequently appeared in public, appearing awkward when speaking English. His answers and press conferences surrounding the Balon d'Or are almost entirely Spanish. He even interviewed about the reasons for his inability to speak English.

His opponent, Cristiano Ronaldo, is a native English speaker and was sometimes able to help him understand the questions. His wife Antonella, fluent in English, often steps in to help him out. Messi does not have a command of the English language.

What Languages Does Messi Speak? Compared to these other languages, his native Catalan falls far short. Catalan is spoken by about 9 million people worldwide. It is estimated that another 11 million people can read and write the language, even if they cannot say it. Messi can stay in touch with his teammates despite playing for clubs in different countries.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.