Lionel Messi Tests Positive for COVID-19... Four Teammates Infected

Infection During Visit to Hometown Argentina... 3-Day Colitis
Serious Spread in France as Well... Over 200,000 Cases Daily

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Lionel Messi, a world-renowned soccer player, has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 along with four of his teammates.

According to foreign media including the AP News on the 2nd (local time), the French professional soccer team Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) announced in a statement that four players from the team?Messi, Juan Bernat, Sergio Rico, and Nathan Bitumazala?tested positive for COVID-19.

Messi is believed to have contracted COVID-19 while spending his holiday in his hometown Rosario, Argentina, at the end of the year. Mauricio Pochettino, PSG’s coach, said, "Messi is in continuous contact with the PSG medical team," and added, "He will return to France once he tests negative."

All PSG players infected with COVID-19, including Messi, have been quarantined. Accordingly, PSG announced that they will not participate in the Coupe de France match scheduled for the 3rd, organized by the French Football Federation (FA). Coach Pochettino explained that it is uncertain whether Messi will also miss the Ligue 1 match in Lyon on the 9th of this month.

PSG emphasized that the players are following quarantine guidelines while in isolation, but concerns about the spread remain high due to contact occurring in places like locker rooms. Coach Pochettino stressed, "We have been dealing with COVID-19 for two years, but there are still things beyond our control," and added, "Soccer players inevitably have contact, such as changing clothes together in the locker room."

The spread of COVID-19 in France is also reported to be very severe. France has recorded over 200,000 new cases for four consecutive days recently during the year-end and New Year period, and on the 31st of last month, it surpassed 230,000 cases, setting a new record. As of this day, France’s cumulative COVID-19 cases stand at 11,911,926, with a total of 123,851 deaths reported.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.