Vatican City – Many football fans would dream of this. A signed Lionel Messi shirt but it was Pope Francis who got lucky on Wednesday when he received a personally autographed jersey from the Barcelona four times Ballon d’Or.

The pope got lucky on Wednesday when he received a personally autographed shirt from Lionel Messi

Barcelona legend Messi, who like Pope Francis is Argentinian, sent his compatriot a shirt with the words “with much affection”, reported the Vatican.

It is already the third souvenir shirt given to the new pontiff, a known football fan and long-time follower of Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo, one of Argentina’s top five clubs.