Argentine Pope welcomes his country soccer team
Argentine striker Lionel Messi and his teammates from the Argentina national team, today enjoyed a private audience in the Apostolic Palace along with their compatriot, Pope Francis I, first Latin American pope, who also received the Italian soccer team, in the frame of a friendly match between both teams on next Wednesday.
“Soccer has taken me around the world, in the most amazing places, but today is a really special day, an unforgettable one,” said the four-time Golden Ball and Argentine captain Lionel Messi, who will not play the friendly match and returned to the his team headquarters in Spain to continue his physical recovery, following an injury to his left leg.
For its part, the Argentine pontiff said “will be a little difficult for me to support either team, but luckily it is a friendly match and I hope it is truly the case. I recommend it. ”
Finally, the Pope greeted each of the players and spoke briefly with them while commenting, as he smiled, “back in the Vatican they say I’m undisciplined, this is the reason.” In turn, the players gave him numerous products and footballs, while Messi gave him a plant.

Pope Francis with the Argentine soccer team on the left, and the Italian Soccer team on the right.