What Language Does Lionel Messi Speak Spanish?
Being a native of Rosario, Argentina, Lionel Messi speaks Spanish which is the official language of Argentina since the South American country was colonised by Spain. Messi moved to Spain at the age of 13 to join Barcelona where he learnt a new language different form the Spanish he has been speaking.
One of the reasons why Messi settled into life quickly in Spain was due to the fact that he didn’t have to learn a new language or way of life. So, he was able to interact with his teammates and coaches adequately. Messi speaks Spanish when granting interviews, receiving awards or performing off the pitch duties.
What other language does Lionel Messi speak?
Lionel Messi’s adeptness in communicating and understanding Catalan stems from his prolonged stay in Catalonia starting at the age of 13, during which he interacted with the local populace in Barcelona. His familial ties to the Catalonia region played a pivotal role in his rapid acquisition of Catalan proficiency, reaching a level of fluency almost on par with his native Spanish. Notably, both Messi and numerous members of the Barcelona team engaged in conversations in Catalan during practice sessions; however, this linguistic preference wasn’t replicated in their interactions with the media during interviews.
For those unfamiliar with the context, it’s significant to highlight that Barcelona is located in Catalonia, a distinctive part of Spain that shares borders with France and Andorra. While Spanish and Catalan exhibit certain resemblances, they are not entirely interchangeable. Catalan serves as the predominant language in the region, spoken by a populace exceeding 9 million. It’s essential to underscore that although there are shared linguistic traits, Catalan cannot be directly equated with either French or Spanish.
Catalan and Spanish are distinct languages, not interchangeable. While both are Western Romance languages rooted in Latin, Spanish and Portuguese belong to the Iberio-Romance family, while Catalan is an Occitano-Romance language with ties to Occitan in Southern France. While the name “Catalan” originates from the Catalonia region in Spain, it’s also spoken in areas like Valencia (known as Valencian), the Balearic Islands (including Mallorca), and even holds official status in Ibiza.
On the flipside side, Messi’s greatest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo is known to be fluent in three languages: Portuguese, English, and Italian and Spanish. He is a native Portuguese speaker, having been born in Madeira, Portugal. He gained proficiency in English during his time playing for English clubs like Manchester United and has also developed Spanish language skills due to his time playing for Real Madrid in Spain. Ronaldo had a fair knowledge of the Italian before he joined Juventus in the summer of 2018.
What language does Lionel Messi speak aside Spanish and Catalan?
It is difficult to tell but one language Messi finds difficult to speak is English. The player has made it clear that he doesn’t have to learn how to speak English. However, that might change between now and within two years or more having recently moved to the United States to join a club, Inter Miami which is co-owned by former Manchester United and Real Madrid player David Beckham.
Messi often made public appearances, yet he appeared to be uncomfortable conversing in English. His interactions during Ballon d’Or press conferences and his responses were predominantly conducted in Spanish. In one interview, he candidly explained the reason behind his limited use of English: he sometimes required assistance from others to comprehend questions presented in that language.
His wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, who possesses English language skills, occasionally aided him. There were also instances where Cristiano Ronaldo, who is highly proficient in English, helped Messi understand the questions. Consequently, it’s reasonable to conclude that Messi doesn’t possess a strong command of the English language. But as mentioned earlier, Lionel Messi will have to start learning English after moving to the United whose primary langauge of interaction is English.
