World’s Best Footballer Lionel Messi Tests COVID Positive

Paris: Football superstar Lionel Messi and three of his teammates at Paris St Germain (PSG) have tested positive for COVID-19, the French club confirmed on Sunday.

Arguably the world’s best footballer, the 34-year-old Messi was synonymous with his boyhood club Barcelona FC. It was last year only that the Argentine forward left Spanish shores to join PSG. He has won the best footballer of the year award (Ballon d’Or) a record seven times.

Defender Juan Bernat, reserve goalkeeper Sergio Rico and midfielder Nathan Bitumazala were the others to have contracted the virus.

All four players are in isolation, following appropriate health protocols, the club said.

COVID has badly disrupted the English Premier League, forcing several games to be postponed following positive tests of dozens of footballers of different teams.