World champion, four-time Champions League winner and eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient, Lionel Messi has achieved virtually everything in his career. Now 38 and preparing for another season with Inter Miami CF, the Argentine forward reflected on one personal regret in an interview with the programme Miro de Atrás.
Asked about personal matters, Messi revealed that he regrets not learning English earlier in his life.
“I regret many things. I always tell my children to study and prepare themselves. As a child, I had the time to learn English, but I didn’t. Later, I regretted it a lot because I had the opportunity to be close to incredible people and to experience extraordinary situations where I could speak and discuss things. And I felt ignorant,” he said.
The Barcelona years and Spain’s approach
In another part of the interview, Messi confirmed that he once had the opportunity to represent Spain at international level during his time at FC Barcelona.
“Yes, it happened because I was playing at Barcelona. They spoke to me about it, but it is normal, it happens to many young players,” he said.
However, he stressed that his intention was always to play for Argentina national football team.
“I am Argentine, even though I left for Barcelona at a young age. The possibility existed and it could have happened, but my desire was always to play for Argentina.”
Messi went on to captain Argentina to World Cup glory, cementing his place among the most decorated players in football history.
Source: AMNA