Messi watches Wizards vs Pacers NBA game

WASHINGTON, USA States – Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi took a break from football on Wednesday, March 25 (Thursday in Manila) joining Argentinian teammates at the Washington Wizards’ home NBA game against the Indiana Pacers.

Messi posted a photo of the action at the Wizards’ Verizon Center arena on his Instagram account, captioned “viendo basquet” — watching basketball.

Plenty of NBA fans in attendance displayed their soccer savvy, posting pictures of Messi and his teammates on social media sites.

I was trying to smile thru the tears pic.twitter.com/qzmb0pXdD1

— ice queen (@myohmaya7) March 26, 2015

Leo Messi meets Gheorghe Muresan at Wizards game pic.twitter.com/6RWOdUPDTm (via @MonumentalNtwrk)

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 26, 2015

Messi is at the Wizards game & the fans are still watching the court? SMH pic.twitter.com/qT1RT1ij1C

— Church of Soccer (@churchofsoccer) March 25, 2015

Beal just got hurt. Bring in Messi. #wizards pic.twitter.com/XXlPY3W03P

— shannon richter (@rchtdc) March 25, 2015

The NBA posted a video of the Argentinian booters on their YouTube channel.

A photo of Messi was captioned “our special guest for #WizPacers” although it’s likely the Argentinians were backing countryman Luis Scola and his Pacers, who edged the Wizards 103-101.

Lionel Messi poses with Luis Scola, Paul George, & other #Pacers after the game. See photos: http://t.co/rVA8WZs9XP pic.twitter.com/YuoZuh4r9s

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) March 26, 2015

Indiana got the better of the home team Washington with a 103-101 victory.

Messi and Argentina are due to take on El Salvador in a friendly in Washington on Saturday, with a friendly against Ecuador to follow in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Tuesday.

Although reports earlier this week suggested a right foot injury could be serious enough to prevent Messi from playing in the friendlies, the Argentina Football Association allayed those fears with a report that tests showed all was well.

Messi has trained with team-mates at Georgetown University this week and will be available for the matches, which are part of Argentina’s preparation for the Copa America later this year. – Rappler.com