Lionel Messi Fan Puts Life at Risk to Meet His Idol

Footballer superstar Lionel Messi was relaxing on his private yacht off the coast of Ibiza when he got a surprise visitor from the sea!

Suli, a 24-year-old Atletico Madrid fan, swam a kilometre from the shore of Ibiza to reach Messi's yacht in the sea, shocking the Barcelona star. However, Messi obliged the fan by meeting him, clicking 'selfies' with him and offering him a glass of juice.

Suli, who hails from the Spanish city of Ceuta, achieved something which many football fans would die for. He spent 20 minutes with the former Argentina football captain in his private yacht.

The 24-year-old Suli was enjoying himself on the holiday island of Ibiza, which is an island in the Mediterranean Sea some 150 kilometres off the coast of the Spanish city Valencia, when he noticed Messi's impressive boat near the Salines beach.

The fan left his friend on the shoreline and navigated the waves wearing a plastic bag containing his mobile phone. After swimming for a kilometre he arrived at yacht Seven C where Messi has been holidaying lately.

The 29-year-old was alerted about the uninvited guest. But far from wanting to go by unseen, Messi emerged on to the deck and greeted Suli, who only wanted a photo with Messi but his mobile got soaked in the sea despite being inside the plastic bag.

Then Messi asked one of his boat employees to take a photo of them together that he would send to the man using one of his phones.

The Argentine did not stop there and offered Suli a glass of juice before sharing a prolonged conversation in which the fan was asked about his origin and his previous encounters with footballers, which included meeting Thibaut Courtois.

A fan swam out to Lionel Messi's yacht in order to get a photo with him ?? (via @NeyMarvellous) pic.twitter.com/k2lto5uOAn

- NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) July 17, 2016

"I lost my telephone but I gained a photo with Messi. As he spoke and addressed me, he didn't come across as a global superstar. He was very humble, very hospitable, both he and his family were wonderful," Suli told Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo.

The five time Ballon d'Or winner then made sure Suli arrived safely back on the shore by arranging a speedboat to take him back to the beach.

The story became all the more exciting when Suli came across Messi's historic rival Cristiano Ronaldo at the famous Balearic night club Pacha later that night when the Real Madrid star was kept away from public.

"I couldn't even shake his hand. He was surrounded by security and I couldn't get anywhere near him," Suli added.

Messi retired from international football after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile recently.

(With inputs from Mundo Deportivo)