• Zlatan Ibrahimovic, left, has travelled across the globe. No wonder he speaks many languages - namely Swedish, Bosnian, French, English, Italian and Spanish. AP
    Zlatan Ibrahimovic, left, has travelled across the globe. No wonder he speaks many languages - namely Swedish, Bosnian, French, English, Italian and Spanish. AP
  • Henrikh Mkhitaryan is arguably the most multi-lingual footballer; he speaks Armenian, French, Portuguese, Russian, English, German and Italian. Getty
    Henrikh Mkhitaryan is arguably the most multi-lingual footballer; he speaks Armenian, French, Portuguese, Russian, English, German and Italian. Getty
  • Belgian footballer Romelu Lukaku is a master of languages; he speaks Dutch, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Swahili.
    Belgian footballer Romelu Lukaku is a master of languages; he speaks Dutch, French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Swahili.
  • Manchester City great Vincent Kompany speaks English, French, Dutch and German. Also, he is semi-fluent in Italian and Spanish. Getty
    Manchester City great Vincent Kompany speaks English, French, Dutch and German. Also, he is semi-fluent in Italian and Spanish. Getty
  • Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo is well versed in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and has picked up Italian. AFP
    Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo is well versed in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and has picked up Italian. AFP
  • Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is proficient in four languages - English, Spanish, German and Italian. Reuters
    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is proficient in four languages - English, Spanish, German and Italian. Reuters
  • Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho can also speak English, Italian, French and Spanish. AFP
    Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho can also speak English, Italian, French and Spanish. AFP
  • Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger can speak five languages - German, English, French, Spanish, and Italian. Getty
    Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger can speak five languages - German, English, French, Spanish, and Italian. Getty
  • Manchester United's French star Paul Pogba speaks Italian, Spanish, French and English fluently. AP
    Manchester United's French star Paul Pogba speaks Italian, Spanish, French and English fluently. AP
  • Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne can converse in English, German, French and Dutch. Getty
    Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne can converse in English, German, French and Dutch. Getty
  • Mesut Ozil speaks English, Spanish, German and Turkish well. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Mesut Ozil speaks English, Spanish, German and Turkish well. Antonie Robertson / The National

Football

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who speaks six languages, and other polyglot football stars - in pictures

Knowing different languages definitely helps our globe-trotting stars

Ajit Vijaykumar

July 31, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

How many languages do you know? One, two? Or three at the most.

Well, there are many footballers who know close to half a dozen languages. Players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku are known for their mastery over various languages; which is called being a polyglot.

And it definitely helps them as they move from one country to the other in their footballing careers.

Above is a picture gallery of such famous football personalities. To view the next image, click on the arrows, or if on a mobile device, just swipe.

FootballSport