Lionel Messi did not participate in the Olympic Games this summer (Image: Getty)
Lionel Messi has paid tribute to his compatriot Jose Torres Gil after the BMX freestyle wizard won Argentina's first gold medal at the Olympics.
The 29-year-old wowed the crowd and overtook Team GB’s Keiran Reilly, who took silver, to claim the top step of the podium to be crowned the Men’s BMX Freestyle Champion. An electrifying contest saw Gil score a staggering 94.82, taking gold in a supreme display of skill – a moment that did not escape the attention of football legend Messi, who missed out on this year’s Games.
Messi, who already won Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008, took to Instagram to show his support for the BMX star, posting a picture of an elated Gil planting a kiss on his gold medal. Messi's caption read: “Congratulations legend. Enjoy that gold!” Messi wasn't alone in expressing the sentiment, other Argentinian sporting icons also echoed the message, the Mirror reports.
Messi won gold at the 2008 Games (Image: Getty)
Roma forward Paulo Dybala echoed Messi's message on social media, while Manchester City star Julian Alvarez, a member of the U23 squad in Paris, shared an image of Gil with gold medal emojis, applause and the Argentinian flag. Tennis greats Juan Martin del Potro and Gabriela Sabatini also praised their compatriot after his Olympic success.
Del Potro, bronze medalist in London in 2012 and silver in Rio in 2016, and Sabatini, silver medalist in Seoul in 1988, both praised Gil's performance. The athlete himself then expressed his joy and the importance of his victory, dedicating it to his country.
“I'm happy, even though I haven't yet fully realized what I've achieved. I'm not just representing Argentina, but all of Latin America. I know how difficult it can be for all of us, so I'm really happy. This medal is not just mine, it belongs to everyone. To my team, to Argentina and to Latin America,” Gil said after his triumph.
Gil won gold with stunning performance on the bike (Image: Getty)
Messi, who scored twice during Argentina's Beijing Olympic campaign, has decided not to take part in the Paris Games in order to rest. Despite the efforts of Javier Mascherano, the under-23 coach and his former colleague at FC Barcelona, the 36-year-old felt that his participation was not an option.
Having already played in the Copa America this summer, the Inter Miami star decided that another tournament would be “too much” at his age. Messi also considered that his club's prolonged absence was a deciding factor in not joining the Olympic selection.
“I spoke with Mascherano and the truth is that we both understood the situation,” Messi told ESPN. “I have to choose carefully, and it would be too much to play two tournaments in a row. I was very lucky to be in the Olympics, to win them with Mascherano. It was a wonderful experience in terms of football.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/1931436/Lionel-Messi-Argentina-Paris-Olympics