Argentina superstar Lionel Messi has opened up about having regrets not learning English as a child before his football career kicked off, Afrosport reports.
The 38-year-old has had a successful career with 46 titles to his name including the UEFA Champions League, Copa America and FIFA World Cup. He also has a record eight Ballon d’Or awards.
Despite such success putting him among the greatest players in the history of football, he does not feel pleased not to have learnt English while in school.
“To not have learned English as a boy. I had the time to have at least studied English, and I didn’t do it. I deeply regret it,” Messi told Miro de Atras podcast.
“I experienced situations where I was with incredible and spectacular personalities, to be able to talk and have a chat and you feel half ignorant.
“I always thought: ‘What an idiot, how I wasted my time.’ When you’re young, you don’t realise it. Today, that’s what I tell my children, [the importance of] having a good education, to study and be prepared.
“I always tell my children to take advantage of it. They have a different situation from the one I had, although I never lacked anything…”
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After 21 years with Barcelona, Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain, spending two seasons before joining Inter Miami in the United States where he has won the Leagues Cup, Supporters Shield and MLS Cup.
