Messi joins Facebook, has almost 7 million fans

The two-time world player of the year's global popularity is set to rise even higher after signing up to Facebook on yesterday, collecting almost seven million followers by the afternoon.

Messi wrote: "I am so excited! From now on we will be more closely connected through facebook."

He joins Barcelona teammates Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, David Villa and Pedro Rodriguez and Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo as Spanish league players with fan pages on the social-networking website.

Messi, who doesn't have a Twitter account, has scored 45 goals for defending Spanish champion Barcelona this season.