Nearly 30,000 fans gather for Messi's training session

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Almost 30,000 people gathered at the training campus of Argentina's men's football team on Sunday to watch the country's football players, and especially, five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi before they depart for Russia to fight for third trophy of the FIFA World Cup.

"The steam breathed out by Argentinean fans gave Messi a bath," wrote mundodeportivo.com.

The participation of 30,000 people, similar to the number of people watching a usual home game of Newells Old Boys at Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, set a new record for the number of fans watching Argentina's football team training.

Argentina's national football team forward Lionel Messi poses with a fan during a training session at the Tomas Duco stadium in Buenos Aires on May 27, 2018 ahead of the FIFA World Cup. /VCG Photo

Most of the fans at the stadium were kids and teenagers who started shouting "Messi, Messi" when the No.1 player of FC Barcelona appeared. Messi waved greetings to the fans smiling before he started practice accompanied by the coach.

Messi was assigned with Gonzalo Higuaín and Nicolás Otamendi during the group training session. Though he missed Argentina's match because of left knee injury at the second half of 2017-18 La Liga Campaign, his performance at the training session suggests he is recovering well.

Lionel Messi controls the ball during a training session open to the public as part of the team preparation for FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 at Tomas Adolfo Duco Stadium on May 27, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. /VCG Photo

"We are happy to play for our country. Now we are preparing for the World Cup. It's great responsibility to put on Argentina's jersey. We can have the support from the public," said Cristian Ansaldi from Serie A's Torino Football Club in an interview after the training session.

Argentina's men's football team will finish the training program within the country on May 30 before they travel to Barcelona in Spain for further training. The team will also visit Israel on June 9 and then depart for Russia to prepare for the first game against Iceland in Group D on June 16.