体坛英语新闻：Messi and Friends win Battle of the Stars by 9-6

BOGOTA, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Argentinean soccer superstar Lionel Messi and his team beat the Rest of the World, as their rivals were called, 9-6 in the so-called Battle of the Stars Saturday, Colombian sports news sources reported Sunday.

The charity match, played in the Colombian city of Medellin, began almost two hours late due to a mob of diehard fans who lay down on the street outside the Inter-Continental Hotel to block Messi's exit, until the player signed autographs and posed for pictures.

According to the fans, they had spent 600 U.S. dollars for a private dinner with Messi, which did take place, as well as a photo-op and autograph session, which did not. The player's representatives denied those claims.

Messi was fortunately finally allowed to reach the city's Atanasio Girardot Stadium, where more than 15,000 other fans enthusiastically welcomed his arrival, despite the delay.

Dressed in the green and white colors of Colombia's Atletico Nacional team, Messi kicked off the game, accompanied by soccer talents and fellow teammates Pablo Aimar, who scored twice, Javier Maschearno, and Colombian Juan Pablo Angel, who also scored twice.

Robinho, captain of the rival team, wore the uniform of the local independent Medellin team, and headed a squad that included James Rodriguez, Jackson Martinez and Julio Baptista, who also scored two goals.

Messi, who plays for Spain's Barcelona team and is considered to be the best player in the world, left the field 25 minutes into the second half.

Last year, Messi starred in another charity match at Bogota's El Campin de Bogota Stadium, accompanied by players from teams from Portugal, Italy, Argentina, France, Turkey, Germany, Colombia and Spain.