Lionel Messi has proved himself to be one of the best sportspersons in the current era, again, with a heartwarming gesture that he made towards a journalist.  After winning their match against Nigeria, on Tuesday, the Argentine captain made the journalist’s day after Messi revealed that he has worn the lucky charm that he was given by him.

After Argentina beat Nigeria, Telefenoticias’ reporter Rama Pantorotto asked Lionel Messi a question about the red string (lucky charm) that he had given him after the team’s drawn match against Iceland. At the media gathering, the reporter said, “I had given you a good luck charm that my mother had given me after the first match. I am not sure if you have kept it yet, or have thrown it away!”

To everyone’s surprise and Pantorotto’s delight, Messi pointed towards his socks and showed him the red string tied around his ankle that he was given by the journalist after the first match. The journalist was caught by surprise and so were others present at the moment.

As per a Barca Blaugranes report, the brief conversation between Lionel Messi and the journalist went like this.

Journalist: I am Sorry?

Lionel Messi: For real?

Journo: For real? Do you put it on your leg?

Messi: I wanted to say thank you!

Journo: You’re screwing with me!

Watch Lionel Messi Reveals Red String Lucky Charm That A Journalist Gave Him After First Match at FIFA World Cup 2018:

The journalist later explained that the piece of red string was given to him by his mother as a lucky charm for his trip to Russia. Not just that, she had also given her one extra piece so as to give it to Lionel Messi, if he happened to meet him.

Argentina beat Nigeria in a nail-biting thriller, on Tuesday, with Lionel Messi scoring the first goal of the match. The Nigerians scored later in the match to level the scores, diminishing little hope of Argentina qualifying in the round of 16. However, a late goal in the ending moments of the match by Argentina’s Marcos Rojo ensured that the La Albiceleste emerged victorious in the night and advance into the next round.

Lionel Messi was trolled endlessly after he failed to convert a penalty kick into a goal in their tournament opener against Iceland. The missed penalty shot saw the match ending in a draw. The next match against Croatia worsened their chances to qualify in the next round as they were beaten 3-0 in that match.

However, in their third match at FIFA World Cup 2018, which was a do-or-die match for both the teams, Messi led his team from the front and made sure that they ended up winning the match. The lucky charm took quite a time to help the Argentine striker, but it surely came at the right time (in the match against Nigeria)!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2018 07:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).