A mascot has leaped to the defence of Lionel Messi amid claims he snubs the Argentina national anthem.
Much has been made of Messi's decision not to sign the anthem over the years, as his team-mates belt out the song alongside him.
But a boy named Tomas Chavez has shed some light on the situation, saying the Barcelona legend doesn't snub the anthem at all - despite the fact he doesn't sing it - because he actually hums along to the tune.
"It was incredible when Messi came in, and it was something that I will never be able to experience again," Chavez told Spanish publication Marca.
"He hugged me and his hand was bigger than my head, that's why he laughed.
"I hugged him and told him a lot of things: that I loved him, that he is my idol, that I always wanted to meet him and never had the opportunity [to do so].
"[During the anthem] he has his mouth shut and hums the anthem.
"It's true that he does not sing the hymn, but he hums it. I heard it."
