Shadowing Practice: ENGLISH SPEECH | LIONEL MESSI: Heartfelt Farewell Speech (English Subtitles) - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Join us as we delve into the poignant farewell speech of Lionel Messi, the renowned football legend, as he bids adieu to FC Barcelona.
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In this speech, Messi, known for his extraordinary talent and deep connection with the club,
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shares his heartfelt emotions and reflections on his 20-year journey with Barcelona.
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Explore key points such as his sense of unpreparedness for this moment, his profound sacrifices for the club and his unwavering love and gratitude towards the fans and the city.
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This video offers a unique insight into the enduring legacy of Messi at Barcelona
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and the broader topic of dedication and emotional connection in professional sports. On this
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final day, I was contemplating, pondering it, in order to determine the what I was going to express, what I had the ability to articulate.
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The truth is that I couldn't do anything.
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I was blocked, like I am now still.
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This is extremely challenging for me after such a long period of time.
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To do my entire life here, I was not prepared.
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The truth is that last year when all the mess with Burfak and everything that happened, I was prepared.
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I knew what I had to say and I was convinced, but not this year.
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This year my family and I were convinced that we were going to stay here, that we were going to stay in our house,
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which was exactly what we wanted the most, without a doubt, and there was no doubt in our minds about it.
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Our top priority is always our well-being, being in the comfort of our home and continuing to savor the life we have in the vibrant city of Barcelona,
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both through engaging in sports and embracing the beauty of everyday life, which is truly remarkable and fills us with joy.
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However, on this day, I find myself compelled to bid a heartfelt farewell to this cherished aspect of my life
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that has brought me so much joy and fulfillment.
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As mentioned earlier, for many years my entire life here, I arrived at a very young age, 13 years old when I first came.
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Following a span of 21 years, I am departing alongside my spouse,
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accompanied by three individuals from Argentina who identify as Catalans.
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I couldn't be prouder of everything I did, and experience in this city,
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which I have no doubt that after being away for a few years, we will return because it is our home,
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because I also promised it to my children. And nothing.
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I am grateful for everything I have experienced.
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To my teammates, to my former teammates, to all the people from the club, those who were by our side and those we don't see.
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which are many, we cross paths very few times.
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I was brought up with the values of this club.
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I consistently endeavored to handle myself with humility,
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respect and that is precisely how I conducted myself with every single person in this household.
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I hope that is what remains of me, of the luck I had to live and give many things to the club that meant so much to me.
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I had numerous beautiful experiences as well as some negative ones but all of those experiences contributed to my personal growth,
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continuous improvement and the person I have become today.
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I sacrificed everything for this club,
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for this shirt starting from the day I first arrived and continuing until the very end.
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In all honesty, I must admit that I am truly and completely satisfied with the outcome of the situation.
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Thanks for the love from the people as usual.
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I enjoyed bidding farewell in a unique manner.
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I never envisaged my farewell because I didn't ponder it,
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but I do not think I would have imagined it in this way or anticipated it to unfold in such a manner.
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I had a great time doing it with individuals in the countryside, being able to hear one last ovation from them,
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and experiencing their final affection.
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I missed you greatly during this entire pandemic period when we couldn't play with an audience,
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and I missed the feeling of being able to have you close.
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The support, celebrating a goal with them, hearing an ovation that resounded and in my name.
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Now, as I retire from this club without having witnessed it, it has been over a year and a half.
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The truth is, if I had imagined this situation, I would have pictured it with the stadium full,
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being able to be close to the people and properly bid them farewell.
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However, it unfolded in this way, and I reiterate my gratitude for all the love throughout these years.
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We have experienced both wonderful and challenging moments, but the unwavering love from the people has always remained.
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I always sensed it.
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I sensed the recognition, the love, as I also sensed it.
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And this club will remain like this for the entirety of my life.
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I hope to be able to rejoin this club in the future in any capacity
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that may be possible for me at that time.
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I am hopeful that I can make a valuable contribution in order to ensure
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that this club perseveres in delivering its utmost and maintains its position as the premier club in the world.
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I do not know in all likelihood at this moment
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I have forgotten a lot of things I wanted to say but well, that is what I am able to say right now I am not in a good state to think
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and have the words come out the best thing is that we move on to the question and answer session and again, simply thanks to everyone
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Thank you.
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Thanks for your support!

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking with Lionel Messi's heartfelt farewell speech offers a unique opportunity to engage with authentic, emotionally charged language. Shadow speech techniques allow learners to mimic Messi’s tone, rhythm, and inflection, enhancing their overall speaking skills. As a global figure, Messi's language transcends cultural boundaries, making this context particularly beneficial for IELTS speaking practice. By shadowing his speech, learners can develop not only fluency but also a deeper emotional understanding of the words being conveyed, which is crucial for effective communication.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In his farewell address, Messi employs various grammatical structures that English learners can benefit from:

  • Use of Past Continuous Tense: Messi says, “I was contemplating, pondering it,” which highlights ongoing actions in the past. This structure can help learners discuss past experiences with clarity.
  • Subjunctive Mood: Phrases like “If I had imagined this situation” show the subjunctive mood in expressing hypothetical situations. This is useful for learners to convey wishes or regrets.
  • Future Simple Tense: Messi mentions, “I will return,” a straightforward way to speak about future intentions that learners can incorporate into their own speech.
  • Expressing Emotions: Messi's usage of emotional language like “deep connection” and “undeniable love” fosters vocabulary acquisition, especially in discussing personal feelings.

Common Pronunciation Traps

Pronunciation plays a critical role in effective communication. Here are some tricky words and accents featured in Messi's speech that learners should pay attention to:

  • “Cherished” – This word may be challenging due to the 'ch' sound combined with the 'i' vowel, often mispronounced as “chetished.”
  • “Barcelona” – The pronunciation of this city may pose challenges as it is often mispronounced by non-native speakers. Practicing the correct phonetic breakdown can aid in sounding more native.
  • “Accompanied” – The 'c' sounds and stress on the second syllable can be tricky; practicing with shadowspeak can help learners master the rhythm.

By focusing on these aspects, learners can significantly improve English pronunciation, making their speech more natural and engaging. Combine the power of a gripping farewell story with strategic pronunciation practice, and you have an effective learning experience that resonates deeply.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.