New Celtic signing Marco Tilio got a photograph with Lionel Messi late last year.
The pair were in Qatar, taking part in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Messi’s Argentina had just advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Tilio’s Australia.
Tilio was an unused substitute in the match but that didn’t seem to matter afterwards as he posed with Messi.
The image is the first one you see when you visit Tilio’s Instagram.
In the caption, he wrote: “To be a part of something so special and to have learned so much. To then meeting my idol growing up and the best player in the world.
“I’m so grateful and feel blessed. Thank you Australia, what an experience.”
Tilio wasn’t the only Socceroos star to pose with Messi. The likes of Jason Cummings and Cammy Devlin also got photographs.
The idolisation of Messi in defeat was criticised by some in Australia. It was felt that the players were fanboying the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner who had just dumped them out of the competition. (News.com.au)
But Tilio fired back at those claims shortly afterwards in a bizarre interview that seemed to take place during a Melbourne City warm-up.
In the video posted by KeepUp, he said: “I think it’s a load of bull to be honest. We played the game and I think it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a photo with my biggest idol.”
Tilio better get used to rubbing shoulders with some of world football’s biggest names. He could be featuring in the Champions League group stage in a matter of months.
In other news, the latest on Celtic’s plans for pre-season friendly matches
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