Which Language Did Rahul Gandhi Speak to Lionel Messi? VIDEO CLAIMS EXPLAINED

The short, highly publicized Rahul Gandhi Lionel Messi meeting in Hyderabad, during the GOAT India Tour 2025 of the football legend, took the country by storm in no time. The picture of India's most well-known politician in a frame with the Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi sparked curiosity, largely about the verbal exchange that had taken place. The question that arose was, “Which language did Messi and Rahul talk?”
A viral video shared by Rahul Gandhi himself fuelled the speculation over and over, with many asking which language Messi and Rahul talked: English, Spanish, or that mutual admiration moment beyond the realms of words?

Crucially, this video, which went viral, was filmed during the Hyderabad leg of the tour, offering a stark contrast to the events in Kolkata just hours prior, where the Kolkata event descended into chaos, resulting in the arrest and 14-day police custody of the event's organizer, Satadru Dutta.

The Viral Video and the Question of Language

On Saturday, during the Hyderabad leg of the GOAT India Tour, the Rahul Gandhi Messi meeting happened at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Rahul Gandhi himself fuelled the speculation by sharing a video reel captioned, "Viva Football With the GOAT @leomessi," showcasing moments of him walking and seemingly engaging in a brief, one-on-one dialogue with the Argentine superstar.

However, the linguistic barrier, given Messi’s native Spanish and Rahul Gandhi’s primary use of English and Hindi, makes the language of the exchange a key question. While one source close to the organizers of the Rahul Gandhi Messi meeting suggested the conversation might have been in Spanish, the overwhelming context points to a simpler, more professional reality.

The Truth Behind the Conversation

While the viral video confirms the interaction, a closer look at the context and prior statements from Messi during his India tour provides the most logical answer: They likely communicated through an interpreter or used minimal English phrases. The Rahul Gandhi Lionel Messi meeting was described as a “brief interaction” where Messi presented the Congress leader with a signed Argentina jersey. Such high-profile exchanges, often conducted under tight schedules and media glare, are typically courteous, brief, and facilitated by a tour organizer or personal interpreter.

The viral video reel shared by Rahul Gandhi does not feature any clear, audible, sustained conversation in any single language. The visuals primarily show the two figures walking side-by-side, nodding, and exchanging smiles, gestures that transcend language barriers.

It is highly probable that the core of the exchange was facilitated by an interpreter present during the meeting. While minimal common courtesy phrases in English may have been exchanged, any deeper communication would have required a Spanish-to-English (or vice versa) translation.