Soccer

Unbelievable: Egyptian archaeologists discover tomb for a priest called Messi

In a major archaeological discovery that may involve the oldest and most complete mummy ever found in Egypt, it was also discovered a tomb for a priest that's believed to have been namedMessi.

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January 31, 2023 09:39AM EDT

Since he’s one of the best players of all time and recently won theWorld Cup with Argentina, it’s not a surprise to see Lionel Messi make the headlines. However, no one expected him to be related to an archaeological discovery.

Believe it or not, it’s happening. An expedition carried by Egyptian archaeologists along withSupreme Council of Antiquities at Gisr el-Mudir, Saqqara, resulted in unprecedented discoveries dating toDynasty 5 and 6 of the Old Kingdom.

While finding a group of tombs, including the oldest and most complete Egyptian mummy ever discovered— believed to have been placed there4300 years ago— the expedition found objects related to Messi.

Egyptian archaeologists find mummy believed to be called Messi

While the expedition found different objects and many tombs that included the oldest mummy ever found to date, the discovery related to the Argentine soccer star took much of the limelight.

How does Messi have anything to do with this? Well, his name appeared in the same area where the archaeologists found atomb for a priest which contained nine statues.

“The owner of this tomb might be a name called Messi, based on a false door that was found near the statues,” wroterenowned Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass on Instagram.

Martín O’donnell

Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of soccer, NFL, and NBA, with a specialty in real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Editor, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis.