The world's greatest football player could be coming to New Zealand.
The organisers of the Under-20 World Cup, which kicks off later this month, are trying to lure Barcelona star Lionel Messi to these shores during the event.
He would come in an ambassadorial role and his presence would attracthuge media, corporate and public interest.
The Argentine is arguably the greatest player of the current generation. He has won the Fifa's World Player of the Year award four times and has smashed numerous records for club and country.
Since making his Barcelona debut as a 17-year old in 2003, he has scored 403 goals, including an incredible 73 in the 2011-12 season.
He has also provided numerous assists and has guided the Catalan giants to six La Liga and three Champions League titles.
Messi would be the best player to visit these shores since the 1960s. This country has been graced by the presence of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Michel Platini but they were here long after their retirements.
Others such as Gary Lineker, Glenn Hoddle, Paul Gascoigne and John Barnes have played here, but Messi's current status would be comparable to only George Best or Bobby Charlton, who toured with Manchester United in 1967.
Messi's name is also synonymous with the under-20 event, as it launched him on to the world stage in 2005 in the Netherlands. The 17-year-old had played a few games for Barcelona but was mostly appearing for Barcelona B and wasn't widely known outside the Camp Nou. Those three weeks in Holland changed everything.
Other young talents were present, such as David Silva, Cesc Fabregas, Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero, but Messi shone the brightest. He scored six goals, including strikes against Spain (quarter-final), Brazil (semifinal) and both in the final victory over Nigeria.
Tournament organisers here have been dealing with Messi's representatives for almost 18 months. They are believed to be negotiating directly with Messi's father Jorge. It's thought Messi could visit New Zealand en-route to Argentina for his annual break in Rosario at the end of the European season.
However, Messi is in huge demand across the globe and any possible New Zealand visit could be complicated by the progress of Barcelona in the Champions League. They have reached the last four, with the final to be staged on June 8 (NZT). The Under-20 World Cup kicks off on May 30 and concludes with the final on June 20.
