Lionel Messi showed off his ensemble in a social media post on Tuesday, with some of the big names in the game represented on the walls, and in the floor and ceiling, of his memorabilia room.
Across the 13 years of his glittering career, the Argentinian maestro has graced just about every major stage – including the World Cup and Champions League finals – and as such has been perfectly placed to swap shirts with his fellow superstars.
And, seemingly a sucker for nostalgia, Messi has been quietly accumulating a vast collection in private.
There are headline names – Thierry Henry, Raul, Iker Casillas, Francesco Totti, Pavel Nedved, Philipp Lahm, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure to name but nine- as well as some comparatively lesser lights.
Many football fans might not be familiar with Xabi Prieto of Real Sociedad, for instance, while Qatari outfit Lekhwiya’s striker Youssef El Arabi doesn’t have anything like the same billing as Messi in the sport.
Players from France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Ivory Coast, Holland, Germany, Brazil, Guinea, Morocco, the Czech Republic and Portugal are all represented – but there isn’t a single English name on show.
And there’s not even the slightest sign of CR7.
In total, there are 70 different shirts in the picture shared by Messi on Instagram, though it’s likely the room houses many, many more.
Which is all pretty remarkable considering the 29-year-old openly claims to not be naturally inclined to swapping shirts after a game.
‘I don’t ask for shirts. If there is an Argentine, I will swap with an Argentine,’ he told Invictus.
‘If not and there is someone else that asks me, I will swap it with them. If not, I do not look and do not ask.
‘I asked, once…I asked (Zinedine) Zidane.’
Despite his reluctance to pick up matchday souvenirs, he’s obviously proud of his collection.
And why not.
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