Messi's brother says Barcelona were not popular before Leo – Barca fans react

In his rant on Twitch this afternoon Leo Messi's brother Matias Messi claimed that Barcelona were not a popular club before Messi emerged as a superstar.

Matias went on to label Barca president Joan Laporta as "an ungrateful man, with everything that Messi gave Barcelona."

Although he later deleted the video where he insulted Laporta, Barca fans on Twitter have been reacting to his comments.

Terror_Tee: "Appalling comment.. like he forgot the likes of Eto'o, Romario, Rivaldo, Requellme, Ronaldo the least goes on and on... take nothing away from Leo but Barca made him."

Raffy: "I'm a Messi fan but Barcelona has been way big before Messi.."

Sovan: "Barcelona was great before Messi,and Messi with Barça became both greater"

Some fans seem to agree with him. Hitu wrote:

"Thats true for me also. I stated watching football because of Messi and then followed Barcelona since he played for them. But now I am a fan of both."

Team Messi: "It's a controversial statement but it's true that Messi made them bigger and more relevant."

Barcelona are one of the greatest clubs in the history of the game. Saying that the club was not popular before Messi is bit far-fetched.

What do you think?