Kolkata, Sep 1 (IANS) Ten-year-old Presilla Gonsalaes, a Kolkata-based Argentinean, has idolised Lionel Messi since she was four and dreamt of meeting him and having a photo-op with her ‘god’ one day. Her dream came true on Wednesday.
The day would always remain etched in Presilla’s heart.
Presilla has been living in Kolkata along with her parents, who run an NGO, for the past ten years.
‘She has been an ardent fan of Messi since the age of 4-5. She loves football a lot. She never misses a single match when Messi plays,’ said Dick Gonsalaes, Presilla’s father.
After learning that Messi was to play in Kolkata, Presilla persuaded her parents to take a room at The Hyatt Regency hotel where the Messi-led Argentinean team has checked in.
‘Earlier we thought we would just come to see the match, but Presilla was so adamant to share the same hotel with Messi that we gave in,’ said Julema Gonsalaes, Presilla’s mother.
On Wednesday, Presilla dressed in an Argentinean jersey and along with her parents stood at the hotel lobby waiting for her idol to show up.
Her dream of meeting the prince of football finally came true Wednesday evening when Messi along with his team returned to the hotel after a practice session at the Salt Lake stadium.
As Messi was about to proceed to his room, Presilla ran towards the star and greeted him in Argentine style.
Messi was taken by surprise. Dick then told the footballer how his daughter idolised him. Messi agreed to a photo session with Presilla and also chatted with her for a few minutes.
The whole team posed for a photo session with her.
‘I am very happy today. Now I have a photograph with Messi,’ said a smiling Presilla.
