Lionel Messi and Barcelona Team-Mates Visit Children in Local Hospitals

While it is traditional for Premier League teams to pay visits to children's hospitals in the build-up to Christmas, it tends to be done before Epiphany in Spain.

January 6 is the day on which presents are traditionally exchanged, often celebrated with the Fiesta de Los Reyes (Three Kings Parade), in which the Biblical Magi arrive from the Orient to share gifts. 

In the build-up to Epiphany, several of Barcelona's squad paid a visit to three of the cities' hospitals to visit children who will not be spending the holiday at home: 

"

Más imágenes de #Messi y @Mascherano visitando el hospital, este Lunes. pic.twitter.com/8VcyapvwtT

— Team Lionel Messi (@teamLionelmessi) January 4, 2016"

Earlier in the day, the Blaugrana also held an open training session that was enjoyed by over 10,000 fans:

[FCBarcelona.com]