Messi's private plane 'forced to make emergency landing at Brussels airport'

Lionel Messi's private plane had to make an emergency landing at Brussel's Zavantem airport on Friday morning after problems with the landing gear were detected.

It is not clear whether the Barcelona star was on board at the time, but the aircraft touched down en route to Tenerife at 9.10am, according to Belgian outlet HLN.

90 minutes later it is said to have taken off again, before turning back and returning to the Belgian capital.

Messi bought the Gulfstream V two years ago for a fee of €13m (£11.5m), and had his shirt number, 10, painted on the tail, as well as including the names of his children, wife and himself on the steps of the entrance staircase.

Brussels airport has refused to comment on the incident due to GDPR legislation.

The luxury plane is the perfect means of transport for Barcelona's star man, even though it had to make an emergency landing in Brussels due to a technical fault.

It was made by a company in Argentina and designed for Messi as well as his family.

It boasts a number of incredible features, including its very own kitchen.

There are two bathrooms and enough seats for 16 people.

Incredibly, the chairs can also be folded up and turned into eight beds.

To top things off, the steps feature the names of Messi and his family – wife Antonella, plus children Thiago, Ciro and Mateo.

However, the plane – which also boasts his No 10 on the tail – is not owned by the superstar, instead he leases it.