Messi funds hometown sports center rebuild

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has donated one million pesos (152,000 euros) to finance the refurbishment of a sports center in a rundown area of his hometown, Rosario.

"Rebuilding the sports center will benefit thousands of people in the area," town mayor Rolando Dal Lago told AFP.

Messi, the winner of a record four successive Ballon d'Or awards, has a foundation in Rosario.

The player's stellar career started at Rosario club Newell's Old Boys when he was 13 before he left for Spain.