Lionel Messi reveals his pre-match Apple Music playlist: The English language songs the football icon listens to when he warms up

Lionel Messi has revealed the English songs he listens to while warming up before a match, after unveiling his pre-match playlist for Apple Music.

The Inter Miami star, who won the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in December 2022, shared a wide selection of tracks as part of the release.

The playlist includes hits from globally acclaimed Spanish-speaking artists, including Daddy Yankee, Karol G and Bad Bunny.

Speaking about his song choices for the playlist description on Apple Music, the 36-year-old said: “Music has always played an important role in my life, especially on match days.

“Music calms my mind and helps me stay composed and relaxed.”

In addition to containing well-known reggaeton and cumbia songs in Spanish, artists such as Coldplay, U2, Gorillaz and AC/DC also appear.

I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho), Pitbull’s 2009 hit single, also appears, accompanying songs such as Viva La Vida, Feel Good Inc., Vertigo and Rihanna’s Don’t Stop The Music.

Messi also appears to be a big hip-hop fan, with Drake’s First Person Shooter (featuring J Cole) appearing.

The top artist on the list is Bad Bunny, who makes six appearances on the playlist in total, across a set of 60 songs, lasting three hours and 30 minutes.

Messi’s revelation comes after the release of Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend on Apple TV+, a documentary looking at his role in the Argentina national team’s run to World Cup glory in Qatar last winter.

For most of his career, Messi has single-handedly carried the hopes and dreams of 40 million people.

‘In Argentina, [football] “You live very intensely,” he says. ‘My whole life was like that. My whole career was like that. And that is very difficult. “I am very motivated to win for my country.”

The Inter Miami star, who won the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in December 2022, shared a wide selection of tracks as part of the release.