Lionel Messi stone stolen from Gabon

The Barcelona forward laid the stone at the stadium scheduled to host the 2017 African Cup of Nations final in Port-Gentil.

According to L'Union, that the police had started a hunt for the artefact.

Messi was accused of receiving £2.4 million for his controversial trip to the country, where he was a special guest of president Ali Bongo.

The Argentine was afforded extra time off after his Copa America exploits, some of which he spent undertaking a charity trip in Gabon.