Classy Lionel Messi praised for outstanding sportsmanship against Osasuna

Can he do anything wrong?

Sportsmen and women at the top of their respective fields are mentally programmed differently to us mere mortals. Their unrelenting determination and drive to achieve perfection is what sets them apart from both Joe Public and their fellow athletes. True champions have an unremitting competitive streak and they'll often do anything to succeed. That said, even amongst the world's very greatest sportspeople, Lionel Messi is a breed apart. Now we're not saying that the diminutive genius has never sought an advantage on the pitch or waved an imaginary card to the official before, but he is famed for his propensity to stay on his feet when others would happily fall to the floor in mock anguish. Against Osasuna in the noon kickoff, Messi gained ever more plaudits for the way he instructed the referee he had not been fouled when he lost his footing close the opposition's penalty area. With Miguel de las Cuevas trailing in his wake, the Argentine fell to the floor and it looks as though he had been brought down. But he quickly turned to the ref and furiously remonstrated that this was not the case, and that he had not been touched... https://twitter.com/barca_nations/status/807591095513161729 This was followed by a flurry of gushing messages of admiration from his doting fans. They'd expect nothing less from their ridiculously talented and fair-minded hero... https://twitter.com/kthrnhls/status/807579520202981376 https://twitter.com/Actually_Inam/status/807589052560064513 https://twitter.com/MoRosement/status/807583496021610496 https://twitter.com/Maude_007/status/807579079209795584 https://twitter.com/Achraf_Hayou/status/807578782391562240 https://twitter.com/aadimitriu/status/807578339019984897 Catch up with this week's episode of Football Friday Live