A short clip from a recent Major League Soccer (MLS) match has fans buzzing. Lionel Messi was heard speaking English during a light exchange with a referee. The moment, recorded through the league’s referee body camera system and shared by popular football page 433 on X (formerly known as Twitter), quickly went viral. Many viewers found the brief exchange unexpected and hilarious, especially because Messi almost always speaks Spanish in interviews and matches.
Fans react to Lionel Messi’s English chat with referee
The video showed the referee approaching Messi after a challenge. Messi responded in accented but clear English, saying “Foul… foul… no foul!?” His tone mixed confusion and amusement, which only added to the charm of the moment. Public instances of Messi using English are rare, which is why fans instantly latched onto the clip and shared it across social platforms. Many commented that the simplicity of the exchange made it even funnier.
Reactions came in fast. One fan wrote, “This ref cam is pure gold!” Another added, “That’s why he’s the GOAT.” Others praised Messi’s personality, including one who joked, “English is nothing compared to his superior personal skills and charisma!” Another simply summed it up by calling him “a legend.”
The moment also reignited a recurring question among fans: Does Messi speak in English? While he usually sticks to Spanish publicly, former teammates and coaches have mentioned that he understands English well and occasionally uses it informally. This clip offered a rare public example, and supporters were delighted to witness it.
Beyond Messi’s unexpected one-liner, fans also praised MLS for sharing content from the referee’s body cam. Many said it made matches feel more personal. They offered a unique look at in-game communication that viewers rarely get to see.
As the clip continues to circulate, one thing is clear: whether he’s scoring, assisting, or joking with referees, Lionel Messi remains endlessly entertaining in any language.
