JJ Watt Meets Lionel Messi – Burly 6-Foot-5 Texan Exclaims The Relatively Diminutive Barcelona Forward Is ‘Best Football Player’
JJ Watt met Lionel Messi and the two struck quite a pose for the camera. While the burly Texan is a force to be reckoned with, it was Watt who was in awe of the relatively diminutive Barcelona forward.
One of American football’s most popular players, JJ Watt interacted with undoubtedly one of the world’s most professional, not to mention successful, football players, Lionel Messi. The duo met during a training session ahead of an international friendly match. As Argentina’s national soccer team practiced their maneuvers, Watt and Messi opted for a quick photo, where the Barcelona forward, who is currently on international duty with Argentina, posed for a picture with the imposing six-foot-five Houston Texan defender, reported the Daily Mail.
Despite barely reaching the shoulders of Watt, it is apparent that the Texan idolizes Messi. The Houston Texans’ defensive end posed for a photo on Saturday morning with FC Barcelona and Argentina national team forward Lionel Messi, reported KHOU.
JJ Watt even tweeted the photo with a caption that read, “The best football player on the planet.”
In the photo, Lionel Messi is seen holding the 2014 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year’s signed jersey.
The best football player on the planet. pic.twitter.com/4iXfkdupfD
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) September 5, 2015
As against the six-foot-five, 289-pound Watt, Lionel Messi appears quite petite, barely reaching Watt’s shoulders at five-foot-six. At 148 pounds, Messi even weighs almost half of the burly Watt, but it is obvious that size doesn’t matter, and it’s the skill that dominates on the field. To ensure Watt connected well with Messi’s diehard fans, the former made it a point to call the sport football when posting the endearing image.
A four-time world player of the year, Lionel Messi and his Argentinian team are currently training in Houston, Texas. The squad faced Bolivia in an international friendly at the BBVA Compass Stadium on Friday night. During the match, Messi, who came on as a second-half substitute, scored twice. Needless to say, the finely-tuned Argentinian team pummelled their South African opponents and rallied to a 7-0 win amidst thundering applause from football-crazy fans.
The two goals bring Messi’s tally to 48 international goals. He is quite close to all-time leading scorer Gabriel Batistuta’s total of 56 international goals. Messi’s coach, Gerardo Martino, is confident that the 28-year-old will easily surpass the record this year.
“I am sure Leo will catch Batistuta as the team’s leading scorer, he is getting closer.”
While Argentina will soon face Mexico, the internet is still gushing over the awesome image of JJ Watt and Lionel Messi standing next to each other.
[Image Credit | Denis Doyle / Getty Images]
