Argentinos Juniors’ youngster Ezequiel Ham faces an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a broken leg in the Primera clash with Boca Juniors in September but Argentina captain, Lionel Messi has shown his support by sending the 21-year-old a signed Barcelona shirt. Ham posted a picture of the shirt on his Instagram account with the caption – “A gift from the ten! Thank you Leo.”

Messi is also currently out injured after suffering a knee injury playing for Barcelona and missed Argentina’s most recent disappointing results but sent the shirt as a sign of solidarity to one of Argentinos Juniors’ most promising young players.

Ham had just broken into the first eleven but a robust challenge from Carlos Tevez on September 19th left him with a fractured shinbone and fibula and he will now face at least six months out. Boca went on to win that match after Tevez went unpunished for the tackle but when Ham was in the hospital he was visited by Tevez and another iconic player with links to both clubs, Juan Román Riquelme.