Somebody asked the pope if calling Lionel Messi 'God' is sacrilegious, and he responded

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Pope Francis and Lionel Messi.

• Lionel Messi is a divinely-skilled forward - a soccer player so good, that the pope himself had to clarify he's not actually God.
• A Spanish TV journalist recently asked Pope Francis if comparing the FC Barcelona and Argentina national team soccer player to God is sacrilegious.
• In theory, the pope says, it is. However, he did go on to say that Messi is "very good."
• He's just not God.

Lionel Messi is not actually God, according to Pope Francis.

The FC Barcelona and Argentina national team soccer player is a divinely-skilled forward who spreads his wings to glide past opposition defenders with gravity-defying manoeuvres, before duping a goalkeeper and scoring heavenly goals.

Earlier in the season he overcome a fractured arm but recovered within three weeks and now finds himself the top-scoring athlete in the European game by four clear goals. This season more than ever he has cast an inescapable shadow over his rivals Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo because of the consistent nature of his awe-inspiring displays.

But, regardless, he's still not God… is he?

Read more: A laser-guided free kick, a poke from a brilliant backheel, and an audacious chipped goal: Lionel Messi's 51st career hat trick was so good the opposing fans stood and applauded

When Salvados TV presenter Jordi Evole asked the pope whether comparing Messi to God is sacrilegious, he replied: "In theory, it's sacrilege - you can't say it," as translated by Business Insider editor Ruqayyah Moynihan.

Pope Francis went on: "I don't believe it… do you?"

When Evole said he did, the pope finished: "I don't."

Watch the exchange below:

The Independent reported a further translation. "People can say he is God, just as they may say 'I adore you,' but only God can be worshipped. Those are just things people say.

"'He is a God with the ball on the field' is a popular way for someone to express themselves."

Pope Francis concluded by remarking that Messi is "very good," but "he isn't God."

Read more: A cringeworthy video of the pope pulling away from people who were trying to kiss his ring is going viral

The pope and Messi have met once before, when a number of soccer players enjoyed a private audience at the Vatican ahead of an Argentina vs. Italy international match in August 2013.

The pope was reportedly asked at the time whether he had given a blessing for the Argentina team, a question he "gracefully dodged," according to USA Today.