Lionel Messi has urged those tasked with overseeing the search for missing soccer star and fellow Argentinian Emiliano Sala not to give up while there is still hope.
In an emotional post on his Instagram story, the Bacelona star offered his support to Sala’s family while urging authorities to keep on looking after the search was abandoned Thursday.
“As long as there’s a chance, a thread of hope, we ask that you please #DontStopLooking for Emiliano.
All of my strength and support to his family and friends. #PrayForSala,” he wrote Friday.
Messi’s post comes the day after Sala’s sister, Romina, pleaded with authorities to restart their search for the soccer player after it was abandoned Thursday.
The three-day search was called off after police conceded that any hopes of finding the 28-year-old alive were “extremely remote.”
Sala, who had just signed for Cardiff City, was flying from Nantes to the Welsh capital after saying farewell to his former teammates following his $19.3 million move to the Premier League club.
Rescue workers had been attempting to locate the plane since it disappeared from radar near the Channel Islands just before 8:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. ET) Monday.
The plane had requested descent on passing Guernsey but disappeared from radar at about 2,300 feet.
But police finally called off the search at 15.15pm local time (10.15 a.m ET) Thursday, adding they had been unable to find any trace of the plane, pilot David Ibbotson or Sala.
“Please, please, please don’t stop the search. We understand the effort but please don’t stop the search,” Sala’s sister Romina urged during an emotional news conference in Cardiff Thursday.
“For us, they are still alive.
It is difficult to express our feelings at the moment because everything is really hard.
“Emiliano is a fighter. I’m asking you please, don’t stop looking for them. It’s been three days and I’ve still got hope that they’re alive.
“It’s terrible, it’s desperate not knowing anything. We don’t have certainty of anything.”
Romina Sala’s words were also echoed by Nantes with the club urging those responsible for the rescue mission to reconsider.
“FC Nantes has learnt that the search for the missing plane was called off. This search mustn’t stop, @GuernseyPolice,” the club tweeted.
“The club and its supporters strongly ask for the search to find @EmilianoSala1 to go on, for his family and his near relatives. Together for Emi!
FC Nantes has learnt that the search for the missing plane was called off.
This search mustn’t stop, @GuernseyPolice
The club and its supporters strongly ask for the search to find @EmilianoSala1 to go on, for his family and his near relatives. Together for Emi ! #PrayForSala pic.twitter.com/7C1PrMUV7R
— FC Nantes (@FCNantes) January 24, 2019
Can sala be found alive?