Santiago Lopez, an Argentine agriculturalist working in Kontogora, Niger State has narrated how Barcelona star, Lionel Messi saved his life.

Santiago

The 28-year-old was grabbed while working in the field since last year. He said he was beaten by captors who thought he was an American.

It was then in desperation that Menendez tried to tell them he was Argentine and he was eventually able to calm down his aggressors with repeated cries of “Messi, Messi, Messi.”

Held captive for three days, the engineer was eventually released after the company who employs him paid an undisclosed ransom to the kidnappers.

Back in Argentina, his brother Jorge spoke to Clarin and said: “‘Tell them I am grateful to Messi,’ he told me. ‘Naming him is what saved me.’”

Menendez is now safe and will return to his homeland in the next few hours.