Lionel Messi admits he doesn't speak English 'out of embarrassment' despite 'understanding everything' as Inter Miami team-mate Julian Gressel reveals surprise on-pitch joke from Argentina superstar

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had no need to become multi-lingual after leaving his native Argentina for Barcelona as a youngster. The expectation was that he would spend his entire career at Camp Nou, but financial struggles in Catalunya led to him leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

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Messi is now in the United States with MLS side Inter Miami, but has a large Spanish-speaking community around him in Florida. That is helping to ensure that the 36-year-old – who recently showed off his English skills in a promotional video for the latest Bad Boys film starring Will Smith – does not need to make uncomfortable statements in public.

Messi claims he would be able to do so if pushed, telling Abitare that his grasp of English is better than many give him credit for. He has said: “I understand everything, or almost everything in English. But out of embarrassment I don't speak - but I think I can actually.”

Julian Gressel, a club colleague of the South American superstar, has previously revealed that Messi knows enough English to joke on the pitch. The USMNT star has said: “Messi doesn't really ever speak to me much and if he did, then it was a little bit in Spanish always. I understand most of it in Spanish. He came over to me and said something in English. That was the first time he'd spoken to me in English, during the game. He was covering his mouth, like he always does. Then after - this is the funny part about it - he goes, 'English pretty good, no?'”

Messi is currently surrounded by fellow countrymen on Argentina duty at the 2024 Copa America. He will be hoping to successfully defend that continental title before returning to Chase Stadium and rejoining Inter Miami’s quest for MLS Cup glory.