Leo Messi may be round about the best football player in the world, but he also enjoys playing with mere mortals. There's evidence. While Messi and family have been enjoying an idyllic holiday on the Caribbean island of Antigua, the Barça star has spent some of his 'time off' playing yet more football - on a tropical beach with a bunch of kids, his own and others.
Messi is an idol for young footballers the world over, thanks to the magic he can work when he has a ball at his feet. And, even when wearing a polka-dotted swimsuit, he doesn't mind posing for a photo with a young fan.
SIMPLEMENTE MESSI: Leo disfruta de sus vacaciones, pero siempre tiene un tiempo para sus fanáticos. pic.twitter.com/r38dhwU1So
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) 19 de juliol de 2019
And as well as sharing photos with his family, he seems unable to resist the odd impromptu game on the beach. Here, with his son and three rivals. That feeling when your own kid makes a friend in a beach football game. And your kid's new friend is called Leo Messi.
¿Te imaginás estar en la playa, de vacaciones, y que salga un "picadito" con LEO MESSI? ¡Eso mismo le pasó a estos pequeños fanáticos en el Caribe! pic.twitter.com/E8VFOr0RU0
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) 19 de juliol de 2019
Messi takes part in a friendly beach kick-around in a completely unpretentious way. Maybe, helping him to stay in shape just in case Barça needs his services ahead of time? Mostly, because football's in his blood. Meanwhile his teammates are already jetting off to Japan for the first part of Futbol Club Barcelona's pre-season. Having played the Copa America tournament while most of them were already on holiday, Leo will be joining them later.