Lionel Messi Suprises Fan from Hometown of Rosario with New Boots

Lionel Messi is currently in Washington, DC, with his Argentina team-mates ahead of Saturday's friendly with El Salvador. The Barcelona legend took time out of his schedule of training and meeting extremely tall former NBA players to surprise a fan from his hometown of Rosario with a special message and a new pair of boots.

Messi's latest boots, the "Pibe de Barr10," are inspired by the neighbourhood in which the four-time World Player of the Year grew up (hence the name, which translates to "kid from the neighbourhood"). They were designed by Ignacio Valenti, who is also a Rosario native.

In honour of the new kicks, the Albiceleste star gave away a pair to one of his biggest online fans. His social team found Brian Rossi, who just happens to hail from Messi's hometown and who is also a fan of El Pulga's first club, Newell's Old Boys.

Brian's footwear-based reward was announced in a post on Messi's Facebook—shared to over 75 million followers worldwide—and on his Twitter feed, giving a kid from the neighbourhood a surprise taste of social media stardom.  

Brian isn't the only fan to enjoy social media interaction with Messi this week: When the Argentina team attended a Washington Wizards basketball game on Wednesday evening, one female fan managed to orchestrate a once-in-a-lifetime selfie.

"

MESSI IS SITTING RIGHT BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW AT THE WIZARDS GAME pic.twitter.com/GL60Z2nbFr

— ice queen (@myohmaya7) March 25, 2015"

"

I was trying to smile thru the tears pic.twitter.com/qzmb0pXdD1

— ice queen (@myohmaya7) March 26, 2015"

Apparently, things are now pretty serious between them...

"

we're planning a June wedding @ Verizon Center https://t.co/ucJ6oCIh8U

— ice queen (@myohmaya7) March 26, 2015"

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