By In a delightful turn of events, soccer superstar Lionel Messi has left fans astounded by speaking English publicly for the first time in a commercial for the upcoming Bad Boys movie, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The Inter Miami player, who relocated to the United States last year, has previously only communicated in Spanish during interviews, making this brief cameo on Tuesday morning a significant moment for his fans.
The short clip, shared on the Bad Boys Instagram page, features Messi approaching Smith and Lawrence’s doorstep and asking, “Bad boys?” in a concise display of his English skills. The comedic duo, portraying their iconic characters Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnette from the film series, humorously inform the football legend that he’s at the “wrong house” before slamming the door shut.
Fans were quick to express their amazement at the Argentine captain’s unexpected appearance in the video. Social media platforms were flooded with comments, with one person on X (formerly Twitter) exclaiming, “This is the first time in my life I’ve heard Messi speak English.” Another fan remarked, “I never thought this day would come,” while a third suggested, “Messi going to the MLS might be one of the best decisions he made.” Some even jokingly proposed that Messi should be awarded an Oscar for his performance.
Although the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has refrained from speaking English in public, his teammate Julian Gressel recently revealed that Messi has been conversing in English on the pitch. In an episode of the Player Manager podcast in March, the German full-back shared a humorous anecdote about their interactions.
Gressel recounted asking Messi if he spoke any English, to which the soccer star replied, “no, not really, your Spanish is probably better than my English.” However, during a match in Saudi Arabia, Messi surprised Gressel by approaching him and speaking in English, saying, “now, we change. You stay and Jordi (Alba) runs, Jordi goes more in behind.” Afterward, Messi playfully asked, “English, pretty good, no?” to which Gressel enthusiastically responded, “yes, very very good! I understood everything.”
Messi’s decision to showcase his English skills, even briefly, in the Bad Boys commercial has not only delighted his fans but has also sparked discussions about his growing comfort and adaptation to life in the United States. As he continues to make waves both on and off the pitch, this small but significant moment serves as a testament to Messi’s willingness to embrace new challenges and connect with his global fanbase in unexpected ways.
