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Football fans have spent eternity arguing who is better between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - but the late Sir Patrick Stewart knew who he wanted to meet while in the same room as the pair. At the age of 86 years old, the legendary British actor passed away in his Los Angeles home. He died after living with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. Many tales will be shared about his life, but one the football world may can reminicse about is his meeting with Messi. He encountered the Argentine at the 2017 Best FIFA Football Awards show, shortly after presenting the FIFA Fair Play Award.
Stewart's wife Sunny Ozell had watched Messi play football not long before and was hellbent on getting a photograph with him. The Huddersfield Town fan did everything he could to make her wish come true, even snubbing Ronaldo in the process.
Reflecting on the entertaining anecdote while appearing on stage four days after the event, he said: "It was really, really hard because there was security like you've never seen," reports the Mirror.
"It might've been the Royal Family because there was Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo and Maradona, and you couldn't get to them. I was sitting at the front row but right at the end, all these guys were on the other end.
"I decided when the show was over, I'm going to make a run for it. They were saying 'Thank you everybody, what a great night, thank you.' I turned to my wife and I said 'You follow me and stay close'.
"I shot along the front row and the edge of the stage going 'Excuse me, excuse me' and going 'I'm Patrick Stewart, I'm Patrick Stewart' thinking it might help. I arrived and they were like 'Oh yeah, okay' and I saw Cristiano Ronaldo look up and go 'Oh it's this guy' and I couldn't see Leo, he wasn't there.
"He had actually turned around and bent down over his seat, and he's quite short, and so he just vanished behind everybody. I stood behind him and then he stood up and turned around and we were face to face. This is emotional to me. He just breathed into my face and I said 'Senor Messi. Por favor. Mi esposa.'"
Messi graciously agreed and posed for a photograph with Stewart's wife. While this was taking place, Messi's partner Antonela Roccuzzo recognised who her legendary husband was speaking with.
Stewart continued: "They shook hands and then I said 'Can I please take a photograph of the two of you together?' I took the photo, not a selfie, I took a photo of Lionel Messi and my wife side by side and then his wife said 'And I want a photograph with you!'"
Stewart and Roccuzzo then joined Ozell and Messi for what swiftly became one of the most memorable photographs of the night. Amusingly, in one of their snaps, Ronaldo was clearly visible behind them on stage collecting his award. The image captured during the encounter is one that will undoubtedly be treasured as the world mourns the loss of Stewart.
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