Messi at the Paralympics! But not for long as the table tennis star – who was a gold medalist before football icon Lionel had even kicked a ball for Barcelona – is dumped out not once, but TWICE by Team GB

Messi was in action at the Paralympics in Paris on Monday and, naturally, he was not short of support from the stands.

But we are not talking about Lionel Messi, the former Paris Saint-Germain forward, now sunning himself in Miami. 

This was French table tennis star Stephane Messi, who won gold at the Athens Games in September 2004 – a month before Leo made his senior debut for Barcelona.

He was taking on Team GB’s Will Bayley in the round of 16 of the men’s singles class 7. Classes 6–10 are for athletes with a physical impairment who compete from a standing position. The lower the number the greater the impact the impairment has on an athlete’s ability to compete.

Despite his vast experience – having also won medals in Sydney and Beijing, where the Argentine Messi famously won Olympic football gold in 2008 – 51-year-old Frenchman Messi was beaten 3-0 (11-2, 11-5, 11-6) by Bayley.

Messi, 51, won Paralympic medals in 2000, 2004 and 2008 but he could not add to that collection in front of his home supporters

Team GB’s Will Bailey overcame Messi 3-0 in sets (11-2, 11-5, 11-6) in their round of 16 contest

Lionel Messi pictured in Beijing in 2008 when he won a gold medal with the Argentina men’s football team at the Olympic Games – shortly before Stephane became a Paralympic champion

Football legend Messi did not visit Paris for this summer’s Olympic or Paralympic Games but the 37-year-old is no stranger to the French capital, having spent two seasons at PSG

There was no shame in that defeat whatsoever though, considering Bayley, 46, is a four-time Paralympic medalist himself, including a class 7 gold in Rio.

Nevertheless, the result capped off a disappointing week for Messi, who was also knocked out by Team GB in the men’s doubles MD14 event on Thursday.

Messi and partner Kevin Dourbecker lost in straight sets to Paul Karabardak and Billy Shilton – who went on to win bronze medals.