Messi Cheating Scandal: Following Scandal, Messi Visits Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi, visited Jerusalem's Wailing Wall alongside fellow Argentinian player Javier Mascherano and manager Gerardo Martino during the second and final day of a "peace tour" that Barcelona made through Israel and the West Bank in the Middle East in an effort to bring Israelis and Palestinians closer together. The trip included a training session for young Palestinian children in Hebron and a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The visit comes after Messi found himself involved in a personal scandal when pictures of him and an unidentified stripper were released by Argentinian gossip tabloids during a trip he made to Las Vegas. The photographs reportedly caused a crisis for the young soccer star and his wife. Messi has yet to address the issue, but according to Argentinian outlets the player is seeking legal action against the publications.

With his head covered with a white yarmulke, Messi and the rest of his teammates placed a paper inside the crack of the wall, as tradition dictates. The Western Wall in Jerusalem is considered one of the holliest places for the Jewish religion.

The player's visit to the Wall was held under tight security, aimed primarily at preventing an avalanche of fans from getting close to the stars of Barcelona. Messi, who was escorted at all times by armed guards, was the most sought after star by the fans that were present at the Wall.

After the tour, the Barcelona delegation participated in a ceremony at the official residence of the Israeli President, Shimon Peres, who signed a "declaration of tolerance" that will form part of the curriculum in all Israeli schools starting next year. Messi along with the rest of his teammates was declared a "messenger of peace" by Prime Minister Peres, because of the labor they were doing by visiting the war torn area.

The delegation then traveled to Tel Aviv for a meeting with a group of children with cancer and later held a soccers playing session with 400 to 500 Palestinians to Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa on Sunday night. The children were invited to the occasion by Israeli authorities as a token of good will while peace negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis continue in the following weeks.