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Stop Comparing Messi To God – Pope Francis Warns Soccer Fans
Stop Comparing Messi To God, It Is Sacrilege – Pope Francis Warns Soccer Fans
Football fans especially those obsessed with magical legs of Argentina international and Barcelona goal machine, Lionel Messi have been told to resist the temptation to either compare him with God or call him ‘God’ as that amounts to sacrilege.
Head of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City state, Pope Francis, who cautioned over the growing tendency to paint a larger than life image of the Barcelona ace, said while there is nothing wrong in appreciating expertise, adoring should only be for God.
The pontiff was speaking to host Jordi Evole on the ‘Salvados’ programme broadcast on Spanish TV channel La Sexta when he was asked about people referring to Messi as ‘God’.Evole asked the Pope: ‘Is it sacrilege to say that Messi is God?’
And Pope Francis replied: ‘In theory it is sacrilege, you cannot say it, I don’t believe. Do you believe you can?
When Evole replied that he thought it was fine to say that, the pontiff, a native of Argentina like Messi, responded with a laugh and said: ‘I don’t.
‘People say ‘God’ like they say ‘I adore you’. Adoring is only for God, they are expressions people use. ‘He is a god with a ball on the pitch’, they are popular ways of expressing oneself.’
‘But look how he plays, eh?’ Evole responded.
The pope replied: ‘Of course, he brings happiness, but he isn’t God.’
The Pope has previously admitted to being a football fan and follows Argentine top-flight side San Lorenzo de Almagro.
Messi’s second-half brace gave Barcelona a 2-0 victory over city rivals Espanyol on Saturday.
Messi is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, with five Balon D’Or and five European Golden Shoe awards to his name.
He has spent his entire his professional career at Barcelona, where he has won nine Liga and six Copa del Rey titles and four UEFA Champions League cups. However, he is yet to play in a World Cup-winning side for his native Argentina.
julius
April 1, 2019 at 2:38 PM
Messi is useless. He can’t do anything beyond Barca. He is a coward
Those ailing him are morons like him
Julius Tayo
April 1, 2019 at 5:55 PM
your ****** is useless! how can you call him useless? even if you don’t like him,you have no right to call him that
iron bar
April 1, 2019 at 11:07 PM
what of the soccer hooligans in our midst,killing and smashing their heads for a league played in europe..Be a fan or ardent follower of people(who inspire u) but dont be stupid about it.
Fifelomo
April 2, 2019 at 7:48 AM
Passing bye..
DB
April 2, 2019 at 7:30 PM
Outright stupidity. How can someone who is struggling to earn his daily bread be likened to the Creator? He has not even shone for his country, it is unbelievable that a mortal who has simply done well for himself in his career and suffering the law of diminishing returns can be thought of as a god not to talk of the Almighty. Arrant nonsense!
Rosy
April 9, 2019 at 3:29 PM
Let them continue comparing. No one is perfect in life.