Barack Obama and Lionel Messi: US President's daughters wanted to meet Barcelona star in Argentina

FootballSportInternational FootballTom Doyle

US President Barack Obama has revealed that his daughters want to meet Barcelona star Lionel Messi on their recent visit to Argentina.

Obama was speaking at a Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Town Hall in Buenos Aires, and said that daughters Sasha and Malia asked him if they could meet Argentine captain and Ballon d'Or winner Messi.

Messi is in South America on international duty with Argentina, but unfortunately for Obama's daughters, the forward is currently in Chile for a 2018 World Cup qualifier.

The US President told the crowd: "They’ve already met one famous Argentinean - His Holiness Pope Francis. Now they want to meet Messi, but I could not arrange that."

United States President Barack Obama says his daughters would love to meet Lionel #Messi: https://t.co/Rcyp03KgWv pic.twitter.com/aZBRoZn6RQ

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) 24 March 2016

Barcelona made reference to Obama's statement on Thursday, pointing out that the US President has compared himself to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner in the past.

Obama was presented with the Colorado Rapids' hallowed No. 10 jersey at an official reception for the MLS champions back in 2011, to which he replied: "Just like myself and Messi, at the same level."

Obama was also seen on the dancefloor in Argentina, dancing the tango at the end of a candlelit state dinner hosted by Argentinian President Mauricio Macri in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.

ArticleObama's daughters wanted to meet Barcelona star Messi in ArgentinaBarack ObamaFc BarcelonaSpanish FootballLionel MessiArgentina Barack Obama Lionel Messi: US President daughters wanted to meet Barcelona star in ArgentinaTango has Obama hot under the collarImagePublishedMedium width1Thursday, March 24, 2016 - 17:35OnEnable video endboarddefault