Gabon Denies Paying Barcelona's Lionel Messi 2.5m Pounds For Ali Bongo Visit

The Gabonese government have denied claims that Barcelona's Lionel Messi was paid €3.5m (£2.5m) to visit the country to take part in a ceremony at one of the venues for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Messi, who has yet to link up with his Barcelona teammates on their US tour , was pictured at the weekend in the country's second-largest city, Port-Gentil, where he helped to lay one of the first stones for the planned 40,000 capacity venue. (Messi is The Pele Of This Generation)

France Football had claimed that he and former Barca team-mate Deco received €3.5m for the trip but a statement from the Embassy of Gabon has denied that was the case.

"The Republic of Gabon strongly denies have transferred or having promised to transfer any sum of money to the Argentine international football player Lionel Messi, who was in Gabon from 17 to 18 July 2015 on the invitation of Ali Bongo," it read.

The four-time Ballon d'Or winner was also criticised for showing his support for Bongo, the controversial Gabonese leader, who has been accused of committing electoral fraud to remain in power and various human rights abuses. Messi later appeared at one of the president's restaurants in the city, with Bongo explaining how the meeting had come about.

"When I was in Barcelona a few years ago, I met Messi who had told me that he would come to visit me in Libreville," he said. "It's a promise he made me. He is a man of honour who just kept his word."