Footage Of Nine-Year-Old Lionel Messi Consoling An Opponent Has Emerged

Lionel Messi has always been class with the ball at his feet but as a youngster he proved he was also class in other ways, when he consoled an opponent at just nine-years-old.

There's no doubt that many of his opponents during his career have wanted to break down in tears after coming up against Messi on the pitch.

If nothing else, the PSG star has won 27 cup finals, of sorts, with either his club or country throughout an amazing career, senior, under 23 or under 20 level.

Maybe the first time he witnessed an opponent struggle after losing at the hands of himself was aged nine, when Messi and his Newell's Old Boys teammates won the Friendship Cup, in Peru.

Whilst they celebrated, one opponent fell to the ground obviously upset at the loss, the future seven time Ballon d'Or winner went over and proved the name of the competition, by embracing his opponent, before his team join him to help the child to his feet.

According to Messimo, who released the footage, the '97 Friendship Cup saw a pre teen Messi score seven times in the semi final alone.

He then grabbed a hat-trick in the final, as the Argentina star started to make a name for himself at a young age, and on his first tour outside his home country.

Those goals made him the competition's top scorer, despite that fact that he was ill during it, and his team won the final 7-1, no wonder the other kid was so upset.

Newells were nicknamed 'the Machine' during the tournament, and it's not too difficult to understand why.

The 34-year-old has had a difficult few months since leaving Barcelona for PSG, and he's scored just three goals in his first campaign in Ligue 1, from 20 appearances.

He is still showing how good he is at passing, despite poor form in front of goal, and his troubles in front of goal weren't as bad in Europe, as he scored five goals in seven Champions League appearances.

Of course he couldn't help Mauricio Pochettino's side from being knocked out of the Champions League, by Real Madrid and Karim Benzema's brilliant hat-trick.

No one shows him quite as much compassion when he loses as he did to his opponent at nine years-old, but that's what happens when you're one of the best ever.