Lionel Messi: Footage of Champions League mascots' heartwarming reaction to PSG star

Lionel Messi isn’t just one of the greatest sportspeople to have ever lived, he’s also one of the most recognisable human beings on the planet.

You can’t just have 257 million followers on Instagram and simply be known within the footballing community, no, Messi is a global celebrity who’d be recognised in the street by people who had never watched a game of his in their life.

As such, it’s fair to say that there have been some rather remarkable reactions from people who have gotten the chance to meet the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner before.

Whether that’s players swarming over him to get his shirts after games or hundreds of members of the public baying for a photograph when he’s on his holidays, Messi must hardly get a moment to breathe sometimes.

But of all the interactions that he must go through every day he leaves the house, by far the most heartwarming of them must be the ones with children.

Besides, even to a cold-hearted adult, the sight of a young boy or girl having their dreams come true by meeting a sporting hero like Messi never fails to melt the heart.

And let’s face it, if we were all seven years old once again, then we’d be just as giddy at the thought of meeting arguably the greatest footballer to have ever pulled up a pair of shin pads.

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However, even the most excitable amongst us would probably struggle to compete with the truly uplifting reaction of a group of Champions League mascots ahead of Maccabi Haifa vs Paris Saint-Germain this week.

As the PSG players finished lining up at the Sammy Ofer Stadium for all the pre-match festivities, a few of the children walking out with their heroes just couldn’t miss