As the controversy
surrounding last weekend trip of Argentine international player, Barcelona star
and four-time Balloon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi to Gabon rages on, we bring to
you selected photo shoots of Messi foundation laying stone event.
Accompanied by his Barcelona team-mate Deco, Messi was in Gabon July 18-19, 2015 for the foundation laying ceremony of 40,000 capacity stadium in the Gabonese second largest city. The trip has put Messi in the global media spotlight and has become a hotly debated issue recently.
The first dishonouring news
emanating from the last Saturday foundation laying stone of one of the venues
for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tournament by Messi was the media report
that said the President, Alli Bongo Ondimba paid Messi €3.5m (about £2.5m) for
the visit. The president and his guest had since then denied repeatedly the assumed
media distortions and speculations.
Expectedly, the country’s opposition is making issues out of the trip and had specifically taken a swipe on the superstar, saying Messi’s dressing make-up during the visit was out of standard and respect for the people of Gabon for him to have performed such a national duty in ripped short pants and T-shirt as well as showcasing a leg riddled with tattoos.
Expectedly, the country’s opposition is making issues out of the trip and had specifically taken a swipe on the superstar, saying Messi’s dressing make-up during the visit was out of standard and respect for the people of Gabon for him to have performed such a national duty in ripped short pants and T-shirt as well as showcasing a leg riddled with tattoos.
Ordinary Gabonese equally were not left out as they felt insulted by their president chauffeur-driven Messi through the high streets of Gabon and to the venue of the foundation laying ceremony.
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Lionel Messi and President Alli Bongo Ondimba |
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