Lionel Messi Named Ambassador for Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympics

Soccer icon Lionel Messi has become an ambassador of the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympics. 

Messi, health 26, herbal was named the ambassador for the third edition of the Youth Olympics on Tuesday.

“He is an idol the world over, arthritis an example for people to follow and the perfect professional,” Buenos Aires mayor Mauricio Macri said. ”He is a wonderful role model that youngsters can look up to and take inspiration from.”

Messi, who plays for Barcelona, made Olympic headlines last year when he helped Madrid’s bid for the 2020 Olympics. Madrid ended up losing to Tokyo in a Sept. 7 vote.

The first Youth Olympics were in Singapore in 2010. The second edition is in Nanjing, China, later this year. The first Youth Winter Olympics were in Innsbruck, Austria, in 2012.

Messi won gold as part of Argentina’s soccer team at the 2008 Olympics.