Paris Saint Germain forward, Lionel Messi has taken to Instagram to announce to his fans that he is recovering from the dreaded covid-19. In his Instagram message, the 34-year-old Argentine football icon noted that he did not expect that the infection would last as long as it has been.
Lionel Messi reportedly contracted the virus after he had traveled to Argentina for the Christmas holiday. When he tested positive for the virus in December 2021, it was reported that he contracted it from a local DJ. However, the DJ denied the allegation.
Due to the infection, the record 7 times Ballon d’Or winner could not return to France as early as scheduled. Hence, he stayed back in his hometown, Rosario, Argentina for a little while before he returned to Paris.
In the Instagram post he shared on Thursday, January 13, 2022, Lionel Messi could be seen sitting next to his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo. His appearance in the picture proved that he is gradually returning to shape amid the infection.
The Argentina international confirmed in the caption that he is doing better and has even started to train in anticipation of his return to full football action.
Messi wrote: “Good afternoon! As you know I had COVID and I wanted to thank you for all the messages I received and tell you that it took me longer than I thought to be well but I’m almost recovered and I’m looking forward to getting back on the court.
“I’ve been training these days to get 100%, very nice challenges are coming this year and hopefully very soon we can see each other again. Thanks!!!”
Check out the £3 million mansion Lionel Messi built-in Rosario
Lionel Messi and his family spent the 2021 Christmas holiday in his newly built £3 million mansion in his hometown, Rosario. He and his family had to stay a bit longer in the mansion after he tested positive for coronavirus.
Messi reportedly spent at least £3 million to build the mansion which is now fondly called ‘The Fortress’. The mansion is sitting on three adjoining plots of land in a gated private estate.
During the construction of the mansion, Lionel Messi’s father Jorge who is also the footballer’s agent was saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the project which was sited in a private estate called Kentucky in Funes near Rosario.
Some of the standout features of the mansion include a standard cinema, an underground car park that has the space to accommodate 15 cars, and of course a gym.
More so, Lionel Messi would not have a problem with hosting a handful of guests as the mansion comes with about 20 to 25 rooms.
Interestingly, the entrance to the mansion comes with a giant floor-to-ceiling portrait of the back of Lionel Messi wearing the number 10 Argentina shirt.
Reports in Argentine media confirmed that the mansion is divided into three which includes a segment for guests which is yet to be fully completed.
Messi did not only spend the Christmas holiday in the mansion, he spent most of his isolation period there before he flew back to his base in Paris.
Images of Lionel Messi’s mansion near Rosario were first shared by an American TV program ‘Es por ahi’. Speaking on the TV program, Argentinian journalist Guido Zaffora said: “This is the house in Funes near Rosario where Messi did his quarantine that nobody has ever seen.
“He stayed in the house for the first time when he came back to Argentina from Paris for Christmas.
“It’s in the wealthiest part of Rosario in a neighborhood called Kentucky. They call it The Fortress and you can see why when you take a look at the pictures of it.
“It’s been built on three separate plots of land although it’s still not finished and a part of it remains uninhabitable.
“It has between 20 and 25 rooms, a cinema which is big enough to fit both Messi and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo’s families in, a gym, an underground garage with space for 15 cars, a part which is just for guests who have access to the gym and cinema, and a playroom for the children which occupies an entire top floor.”
