Saying Messi name saved my life, Argentine Kidnapped in Nigeria

A 28-year-old agricultural engineer held captive
for three days in the west African country claims
name-dropping his famous compatriot calmed his
violent aggressors
An Argentine kidnapped in Nigeria claims he owes
his life to Barcelona forward Lionel Messi .
Santiago Lopez Menendez, a 28-year-old
agricultural engineer, had been working in the west
African nation since last year, planting soya and
corn crops close to Kontagora in the north-west of
the country.
But he was kidnapped earlier this week and beaten
violently by his captors, who hardly spoke any
English and thought he was north American.
It was then in desperation that Menendez tried to
tell them he was Argentine and he was eventually
able to calm down his aggressors with repeated
cries of "Messi, Messi, Messi".
Held captive for three days, the engineer was
eventually released after the company who
employs him paid an undisclosed ransom to the
kidnappers.
Back in Argentina, his brother Jorge spoke to
Clarin and said: "'Tell them I am grateful to Messi',
he told me. 'Naming him is what saved me.'"
Menendez is now safe and will return to his
homeland in the next few hours.