Rio Olympics: Messi congratulates gold medallist Argentine judoka

Buenos Aires: Argentina’s football superstar Lionel Messi has congratulated his countrywoman Paula Pareto for winning the country’s first gold medal in judo at the ongoing Rio Olympics.

Pareto won the top spot on Saturday. The 30-year-old won gold in the women’s 48-kg judo category, bettering her performance in 2008 Beijing when she won the bronze, reports Xinhua.

“Congratulations to la Peque [Pareto’s nickname] for winning Argentina’s first gold medal. So many years of effort were worth it! I hope this will be the first of many for our country at these Olympic Games!” wrote the striker on his Facebook profile on Sunday.

Until then, no Argentine women has ever won gold in the Olympics.