Lionel Messi hardly came out of the World Cup bathed in glory.
So he is grabbing the chance to relax and forget, sunbathing on a luxury yacht with wife Antonella Roccuzzo and friends in Ibiza.
The Barcelona superstar has little chance to unwind before pre-season training – after muted displays in Russia by both himself and Argentina climaxed with their 4-3 KO against eventual champions France in the last 16.
And the 31-year-old took full advantage of the brief vacation with model Antonella, 30, who he first met aged 13.
The couple wed privately last year and this week again looked keen to shun the limelight for their trip off the east coast of Spain.
But the pride of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi will have been hurt by his disappointing World Cup, especially as young pretender Kylian Mbappe was arguably the brightest star for France‘s heroes.
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But as he soaked up the sun in lavish surroundings today, wondering where it all went wrong, Messi also received a double boost.
He was confirmed as the world’s top-earning footballer with £83.81m – second in sport only to Floyd Mayweather’s amazing haul of £207.6m.
And Messi won the endorsement of Wayne Rooney as the greatest ever player.
DC United new boy and former England skipper Rooney, 32, dived into the who-is-better debate over Messi and £99m Juventus buy Cristiano Ronaldo.
Rooney told the ‘Pardon My Take’ podcast: “They’re both probably the best two players to ever the play the game.
“But I just think Messi is, in my eyes, the greatest ever.”
Such glowing words might not be the reason Messi is looking so relaxed in Ibiza – a million miles away from his strained appearance before and even during games in Russia.
But it all must be a help as he prepares for pre-season training with La Liga champs Barca, knowing the main-man mantle he has shared with Ronaldo for a decade is finally under serious threat from Neymar, Mbappe and Co.