Lionel Messi lifting weights 'for the first time' has stunned fans, it looks so strange

A video of Lionel Messi lifting weights has gone viral on social media, with fans stunned at seeing the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner in a completely different setting.

Messi, standing at just 5ft 7 and weighing 159lbs, is as pint-sized as they come and has made a mockery of the idea that elite athletes have to be blessed with power.

The Argentine was so small as a youngster that doctors concluded he was suffering from growth hormone deficiency and he had to have growth hormones injected into his leg as a result.

But even though he's not a bodybuilder by any means, Messi still looks to improve his strength at the age of 35-year-old as new footage shows.

In a clip shared on Paris Saint-Germain's media channels, players could be seen performing a range of different exercises.

It included dynamic movements, medicine ball exercises and weights and the main talking point was Messi lifting what looked around 20lbs.

Cameras captured the Barcelona legend picking up a barbell and hoisting it to his pectorals and it looking the first time he had ever done weights in his life.

On social media, one fan shared a GIF and wrote, "I swear that's the first time I've seen him lift weights."

The tweet accrued over 50,000 likes and had plenty of other people in agreement that this was an ultra rare sight.

Another said: "Never in my life have I imagined Messi lifting weights."

A third commented: "When you carry your team for so long, you don't need to lift weight for anything."

A fourth added: "Messi lifting weights looooool why is this so funny to me haha."

A fifth joked: "Nah he’s completed football now he’s into side quests."

Messi has never needed much lifting practice given all the awards and trophies he's got his hands on - the most recent being the World Cup which helped him complete his incredible collection.

Image: Alamy

He hasn't lifted the Champions League since 2015 however and will be desperate to help PSG go all the way after a slew of consecutive disappointments.

The Ligue One leaders have been drawn against Bayern Munich in the round of 16.