Lionel Messi gets stuck behind airport car park barriers after forgetting to pay charge… so sends Javier Mascherano in to settle the bill

LIONEL MESSI needed Argentine team-mate Javier Mascherano to bail him out - after the mini maestro forgot to pay his airport parking fee.

The 29-year-old forced Mascherano to run for the ticket machine after the barriers remained shut once they arrived back in Barcelona.

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Messi could only hang out his car window and watch as Mascherano jogged back to the vehicle clutching his phone and wallet.

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The duo, along with Luis Suarez and Neymar returned to Barcelona on Monday after enjoying an extended winter break.

The Catalan giants face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 on Thursday as Luis Enrique's side knuckle down for the second half of the season.

And on their first training session back, both Messi and Neymar were mobbed by fans waving flags and asking for autographs.

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They resume their La Liga defence against Villarreal on January 8 knowing they can't lose any more ground over rivals and league leaders Real Madrid.

Zinedine Zidane's side, who are undefeated this season, could move six points ahead if they win their game in hand over Valencia.