Li Boxi, a young Beijing Guoan football player, has apologized publicly in his social media account to world football superstar Lionel Messi after a recent reality TV show incident when the five-time Ballon d'Or winner visited the teenagers' locker room and was allegedly "disrespected" by some of the players.

Like Us on Facebook

In an online video clip that went viral, the FC Barcelona forward, considered as the greatest footballer in the world right now, visited the said locker room escorted by who seems to be the young Chinese players' trainer or coach.

Messi walked in noticeably happy and with a big smile on his face, but some of the boys and girls were poker-faced and stayed in their seats while the 28-year-old world football icon approached them one at a time and shook their hands, via The Mirror.

Li, on the other hand, refused to even come near to Messi and was just forcefully dragged by his coach to go beside the Argentine for a photograph shoot. Li was wearing a black leather jacket with a Real Madrid logo in the chest during that time.

The incident became the source of a lot of criticisms for the young Chinese players as internet users commented that they were "arrogant and their response to the forward's arrival even had some people questioning China's history", as per Soccer Laduma.

However, Beijing Guoan trainee Li posted in his Weibo account his apology for Messi as a reply to his detractors saying that "I want to apologize to Messi. It's impolite to shake hands while not standing up".

The young player explained his behavior saying that he was just unhappy at that moment because they were not given a chance to play with the football superstar by the reality show's organizers during his visit.

"To be a football star, I have to be a better man. I will bear in mind this sentiment and try to improve my shortcomings," Li said.

Messi was expectedly cool about the incident. He even patted Li's back as the young player stood beside him and gamely smiled at the camera while they posed for pictures. He was laughing while he looked at the Los Blancos logo in Li's jacket as other people in the room pointed at it.

On a lighter note, it was clear that everyone around the world knows the history between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

TagsChina Football, lionel messi, Li Boxi, Beijing Guoan, FC Barcelona, real madrid