Cesc Fabregas bigs up ‘humble’ Lionel Messi…days after Barca star’s ban for foul-mouthed rant
Says Cesc: 'The way he treats everyone, the way he lives his life - it’s fantastic that someone like him can be the way he is'
LIONEL MESSI may have been banned for four internationals but he can do no wrong in the eyes of ex-Barcelona team mate Cesc Fabregas.
Messi uncharacteristically unleashed an an x-rated blast at an official in Argentina’s win over Chile last week.
But as a rule Chelsea ace Fabregas is proud of how the mercurial winger manages to remain grounded.
He said: "I admire Lionel Messi a lot, because after what he's done in football, after what he's achieved, what he is to every kid in the world, to nearly every grown up in the world who likes football, he kept it so humble.
"The way he is, the way he treats everyone, the way he lives his life with his wife, with his kids, so normal.
"It's not easy. It's not easy these days when everyone talks so highly of you and you've won so much for so many years, that you are the best player in the world - sometimes you lose it a little bit and you are not in the real world. But he is very, very much.
"And I appreciate that because I consider him my friend and it's not easy and for me it's fantastic that someone like him can be the way he is."
Messi has won eight La Liga titles, five Ballon d'Or crowns and four Champions League trophies to his name.
Fabregas helped Messi and Barcelona bag Spain’s La Liga title in 2012-13 and has also won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2014-15.
He’s heading for another championship medal this season as Chelsea are 10 points ahead of Tottenham at the top of the table.