Messi keeps glucose tablets in his sock!

Sports Desk: Lionel Messi had a secret snack stored away in his sock during Barcelona's Champions League win over Olympiacos.

The Argentinian forward was caught on TV cameras pulling out a tablet from down his sock, which he subsequently gulped down just 10 minutes into the game.

It appears to be Messi's secret weapon, as he went on to notch his 100th goal in all UEFA competitions later in the evening.

But what was it that Messi was eating?

Reports suggest that it was a glucose tablet which he was using for an early energy boost.

Catalunya Radio reporter Ricard Torquemadsa claims that Messi took the tablet at that point because "the first 15 minutes of physical effort is when the muscles are most receptive."

The tablets are made up of glucose sugar, along with flavouring, preservatives and binding agents.

They are commonly used by people with diabetes, as they help treat low blood sugar levels.

In sport, athletes use them for quick bursts of energy - just as Messi was doing in the early stages of the game.

It is the 13th anniversary of Messi's Barcelona debut this week and was on the scoresheet against Olympiacos to celebrate.

He netted the second of three goals for his side during the evening, which extended their winning run in the Champions League group stages.

Young defender Dimitris Nikolaou turned the ball into his own net to open the scoring for Barca.

Messi and Lucas Digne struck within three minutes of each other to put the game beyond doubt in the second half, before Nikolaou amended his earlier error by heading home a consolation for the Greek champions.

Source: Agencies

risingbd/Dhaka/Oct 19, 2017/Amirul