Lionel Messi Tracks Down Mascot for Photo After Missing Handshake: Or Does He?

After Argentina's match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lionel Messi attracted some attention after missing a chance to shake hands with a mascot.

As you can see above, the Barcelona striker went straight to the match officials and left the boy's extended hand unshaken.

He returned round to meet him, but by then the boy had walked away heartbroken.

Still, all that was seemingly put right by this picture—a moment the boy probably never dreamed of. The image was doing the rounds on the internet, while the story could be found online on Univision (Spanish):

"

Lionel Messi & the kid mascot who he missed before Bosnia-Herzegovina game! Via @FCBGoalDigger pic.twitter.com/ZOyq2KoFdu

— 101 Great Goals (@102greatgoals) June 17, 2014"

Then came a twist.

It appeared the image might not have been of the mascot at all, but another boy—possibly, according to 101 Great Goals, the son of ​​former Fluminense player Deivid. 

Quotes have been attributed to Messi denying the snub. Per Eurosport:

"

How could it be that I did not want to greet the boy? I just did not realise he was there. In fact, I spoke to two other children in the line. I would never do such a thing when I have a nephew and young son, I would never do such a thing with a boy.

"

A chance to meet the boy would have been great PR, and a natural step for the player.

Whatever happened, it's certainly proof that whatever Messi does will attract huge attention.

[101 Great Goals, Univision (Spanish)]

This story was updated on June 18 to reflect suggestions that Messi may not have met the mascot whose handshake he missed.