Lionel Messi posted a photo with Pope Francis and paid tribute to him after he passed away at the age of 88 on April 21.
The photo Messi posted on his Instagram Story was taken during their meeting in 2013 at the Vatican. The Argentine striker had a private audience with Pope Francis at the time. He was also a huge fan of his fellow superstar.
"A beloved Argentine Pope. May he rest in peace. Thank you for making the world a better place. We will miss you," Messi's post caption read.
A son of Argentina, Pope Francis is a big football fan, loving his local team San Lorenzo. The team also posted a tribute to him on X. "With deep sadness, from #SanLorenzo today we say to Pope Francis: Goodbye, thank you and farewell! We will be together forever!", the post read.
Legendary Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho posted a black and white photo of Pope Francis and said: "To be great, above all, you must know how to be small. Humility is the foundation of true greatness. Pope Francis, you were the light in the darkness. Great Pope."
On the morning of April 21 (local time), Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on Vatican television that Pope Francis had passed away. After announcing Pope Francis' passing, bells rang in church bell towers across Rome. The day before his death, the Pope appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican before thousands of faithful during Easter Mass on April 20.
Pope Francis is the first Latin American pope, having been ordained in 2013 and is one of the oldest popes in the history of the church.
All football matches scheduled for April 21 in Italy have been postponed to pay tribute to the Pope.