Team Sky’s Dave Brailsford and Pinarello president Fausto Pinarello have presented Argentinean footballer Lionel Messi with a personalised DOGMA F8 bike and Team Sky jersey.

The pair made the trip to FC Barcelona’s Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training facility and met up with the likes of Neymar, Dani Alves and Luis Suarez before Messi was awarded with two gifts.

The four-time Ballon d’Or winner was unable to take a ride on his new bike right away as he is recovering from a knee injury.

Photo: Team Sky
Photo: Team Sky

It was Team Sky mechanic David Fernandez who organised the presentation. Fernandez and Messi share a mutual friend who asked about the possibility of getting Lionel a bike. Fernandez – a huge football fan – contacted Pinarello and Rapha.

Pinarello provided a custom paint job to the F8 frame with Messi’s nickname and squad number embossed on the top tube, seat tube and forks, while Rapha printed the same details onto his sleeve.

Photo: Team Sky
Photo: Team Sky

13 COMMENTS

  1. Yea Sky WTF …. A Soccer player wouldn’t know to fall off and then jump back on with road rash etc Plenty of deserving young riders much more worthy of this …. Sky, u let us down here big time :((

  2. I agree with all the other comments,why the f..k would they feel that is necessary,and a word to messi…..give it to a cyclist who can benefit from it,,,,just lost a lot of respect for team sky…..

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