Footballers will lend their faces to virtually any product these days, but we would have thought that anti-malaria bed nets would represent a step too far. Obviously not.
You’d think Leo Messi has enough money in the bank to only lend his name to the most high-class brands and products, but then again, he has been having some trouble with the taxman lately so maybe he’s not as well off as we all think.
In fairness to the world’s best footballer, however, financial motives have nothing to do with his support of the anti-malaria mosquito nets with his face on them which have been distributed in Senegal in recent days.
Pic via Joe Giddens/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Messi was even on hand to distribute some of them himself to locals in the towns of Mbour and Saly Portudal as part of a campaign to help prevent the spread of malaria, which causes the deaths of 180 children in Africa every 90 minutes.
Messi also attended the launch of the Soccer for Health world programme in Dakar earlier this week and speaking to local media about his involvement with the initiative he said: “I know my trip to Senegal will be difficult because I will see the suffering that malaria causes, but I know that we have a great chance to use the power of football to help save lives.
“Every 90 minutes 180 children die from this horrible disease in Africa, but almost all of these can be avoided by using bed nets. Football Combating Malaria is a very special project to me because I know it will help save thousands of young lives, and I’m delighted to be involved and throw my support behind it.”
Fair play to Messi for supporting the cause and as well as providing protection from mosquitos, no doubt many who use the nets will find the sight of the world’s best footballer watching over them while they sleep a comforting one indeed.
Hat-tip: Who Ate All the Pies
