Pope Francis has given his opinion on Lionel Messi (Image: GETTY )
Lionel Messi has scored 41 goals in 38 games this season as he edges ever closer to Pele’s record goal tally for a single club.
The Barcelona forward has been with the Catalan giants since he joined as a youngster in 2001, and fans have been vocal in their support of the star ever since.
Messi scored another brace in Barca’s win over Espanyol at the weekend, which led to fans claiming online that the Argentina is ‘God’.
Spanish TV station La Sexta have put that very theory to the Pope himself, who has shunned the claims in an unusual interview.
"In theory, it is sacrilege. You can’t say it and I don’t believe it,” Pope Francis responded when host Jordi Evole asked if calling Messi God is sacrilege.
The Pope then laughed when the interviewer claimed that he believes Messi is indeed God.
He added: “I don’t [laughing]. People can say he is God, just as they may say ‘I adore you’, but only God can be worshipped.
“Those are expressions from people. ‘this is a God with the ball on the field’ is a popular way for someone to express themselves.
Barcelona hero Lionel Messi has scored 593 senior club goals (Image: GETTY )
I have to say, it would be nice to still have him here
Lionel Messi on Cristiano Ronaldo
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“Of course he brings happiness, but he isn’t God.”
One player that the Pope wasn’t asked about is Cristiano Ronaldo, whom Messi admitted to missing last week, before complimenting his new side Juventus.
"Yes [I miss him in La Liga]," he said. "It was great, although it was tough for me to watch him win titles.
"I have to say, it would be nice to still have him here.
Barcelona fans are vocal in their support of Lionel Messi (Image: GETTY )