VATICAN CITY: Football superstar Lionel Messi has bagged himself a shirt signed by fellow Argentine soccer fanatic Pope Francis, the Vatican’s sports association said Monday.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Messi, who returned to action on Sunday after a bout of Covid, had given the pontiff a signed piece of kit in October, via French Prime Minister Jean Castex.
In an unusual shirt swap, the yellow jersey of the Athletica Vaticana the tiny state’s multi-sport team — was then given to Messi by French bishop Emmanuel Gobilliard.
Football superstar Lionel Messi has bagged himself a shirt signed by fellow Argentine soccer fanatic Pope Francis,… https://t.co/5uILXrgAnH
— Bruce Amani (@AmaniBruce) 1643028803000
« A man of faith, Messi told me how important this step was for him. We prayed together, » Gobilliard, who will be the Holy See’s delegate to the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, said on Twitter.
The scrawled signature in black pen by the 85-year old head of the Roman Catholic church was a « blessing » for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Athletica Vaticana said on Facebook.
Francis a huge fan of the Buenos Aires team, San Lorenzo — first met Messi in 2013, shortly after being elected pope.
The pontiff shared memories last year of playing football as a child in the streets with makeshift balls, which he said sufficed to bring him and his childhood friends pleasure.