Lionel Messi has vowed to walk for 14 hours if Argentina can win the World Cup next summer.
Argentina would not be at the tournament without Messi and the hat-trick he scored in their final South American qualifiers group game.
Now the 30-year-old says he’ll go the extra mile – or the extra 43 to be more precise if he can bring home the greatest prize of all.
“I will go on foot to San Nicholas,” Messi told TyC Sports ahead of the Argentina’s friendly with Russia.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero took the pledge one step further when asked if he would join the pilgrimage with Messi.
Agureo added: “Walking? No, we’re going to run!”
The 68km pilgrimage is a religious walk that many Argentinian Catholics undertake every year from their home town to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Rosario in San Nicholas.
The religious journey takes place on September 25 and takes approximately 14 hours to walk from door-to-door.
Argentinian city of Rosario to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Rosario in San Nicholas.
The journey takes approximately 14 hours to walk from Rosario to where the Basilica of the city is located.
On September 25, 1983, a local woman named Gladys Quiroga de Motta had a supernatural experience in the sanctuary, reportedly seeing a ghost-like image that she had not recognised.
Three days later Motta had a second apparition which she then reveals to friends and family.
The sightings were later confirmed to be of Our Lady of the Rosary.
On May 25, 1985, a large number of pilgrims arrive in, mobilising the whole city.
The annual pilgrimage, which happens on September 25, hosts thousands of pilgrims who congregate to honour the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary of St Nicholas.
In 2013, 30 years after the first apparition of Our Lady, 500,000 people gathered which broke the previous record of 400,000 set in 2004.
Messi also reiterated his desire to play for his old club Newell’s before he retires.
He told TyC: “I can’t say it will definitely happen but I would love it to work out that way – it was dream when I was a kid to play for them.”
Messi started his youth career with Newell’s and played for the Argentinian side between 1994 and 2000 before relocating to Barcelona at the age 13.
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