Lionel Messi received at least £2.4million in cash for supporting one of the most corrupt dictators in Africa, it was claimed on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old football superstar caused outrage at the weekend when he arrived in Gabon, the former French colony, as a guest of president Ali Bongo.

Wearing Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt, and showing off his new tattoos, Messi was officially laying the foundation stones for a new stadium in the city of Port-Gentil.

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