Wearing jorts is almost never a good idea, just ask Floyd Mayweather. Unfortunately, athletes can't seem to put the denim shorts down, even when they have plans to meet with the president of an African nation. Lionel Messi sported the jorts look while meeting with the president of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba, and the leader's political party, The Union du Peuple Gabonais, was pissed, ESPN reports.
The party said in a statement that the casual look showed a "lack of respect for standards and principles. We are uneasy with Messi’s attitude and his attire." The combination of jorts, an unshaven face, and a T-shirt did not sit well with the government. "The messiah of football arrived in Gabon like he were going to a zoo: dirty, unshaven," the statement reads. "When you’re called Lionel Messi and you’re a multi-billionaire, you don’t have the right to present yourself to officials of a republic, even a banana one, with your hands in the pockets of a ripped, tattered pair of shorts." Jorts have always been a bad look, but rarely have they ever caused such political outrage.
The soccer superstar was in Gabon as part of a five-day press trip in Africa, and this was only the first day. To add insult to injury, it is rumored that Messi received roughly $3.8 million to visit Gabon, according to France Football. Over $3 million and Messi still can't put on a suit. Messi has since denied the report, though, and the publication verified that he was not paid.
You can read the whole statement from Gabon's political party here.
"The messiah of football arrived in Gabon like he were going to a zoo: dirty, unshaven and his hands in his pockets, looking for peanuts to throw to them!
This is a lesson for everyone out there: just say no to jorts.
