Lionel Messi 'walked away' from a picture with a person at the Ballon d'Or ceremony because he felt 'betrayed'

Lionel Messi 'walked away' from a picture with a high-profile figure at the Ballon d'Or ceremony as he felt 'betrayed'.

Despite the joyous occasion, the 36-year-old wasn't happy with a particular incident as he 'walked away' from a picture.

According to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Messi snubbed a picture with Joan Laporta at the Ballon d'Or event.

Balague said: "Messi was taking pictures with Aitana Bonmatí and Laporta was nearby smiling and wanted to talk and have picture with Messi, but Messi ignored him and walked away."

Spanish journalist Gerard Romero had claimed Messi spoke with Laporta at the Ballon d'Or gala.

But the Inter Miami player denied he interacted with the Barca president.

On Instagram, he exclaimed: "You lie once again."

Romero responded by issuing an apology on social media. He wrote: "A THOUSAND APOLOGIES to all, and A THOUSAND MORE. I have been fooled again with something related to LEO. I'm not learning. I'm sorry. VERY f***ed up. I accept everything you tell me today and I promise that we will work to ensure that it does not happen again."