Argentine fans spit on Barcelona star Messi at Tokyo airport

Barcelona won the Club World Championship by beating Argantine's club River Plate 3-0.

After the game, the Barcelona group came to Tokyo's Narita airport to return to Spain. However, Argentine football fans swore and and spit at Argentine national Lionel Messi here.

Messi reportedly did not hold back, either, but Barca teammate Javier Mascherano and head coach Luis Enrique intervened to diffuse the situation.

River Plate officials strongly condemned the attack. "There is always someone stupid, Messi is a gentleman," president Luciano D'Onofrio said.

Lionel Messi, who is the four-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner, is regarded as the best player on the planet by Barca's followers, but has a strained relationship with fans back in his homeland, Argentina.

This past summer, fans turned on Messi's family during Argentina's Copa America final. His brother was hit by an object thrown by a fan.