Asking for a player's shirt after the full-time whistle is nothing uncommon in football - but a request coming from a manager is bound to raise a few eyebrows.
Lionel Messi starred in Barcelona's 2-1 win over Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Wednesday night, scoring an early penalty, and was seen speaking with the Ukrainian side's manager Mircea Lucescu after the game.
Lucescu appeared to be asking for the Argentine superstar's jersey after witnessing the legend in action at the Nou Camp, leaving fans stunned after the unusual exchange - with managers normally keeping their cool on the touchline.
Shirt swapping has been banned since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and Messi declined the opportunity to give Lucescu the shirt he had been wearing for the match - although he did offer him a fresh one after returning to the dressing room, as reported by the Sun.
Messi's spot kick in the 5th minute put the Catalan side ahead before defender Gerard Pique doubled their lead in the 65th minute, although the unfancied Ukrainian outfit threatened to produce a shock after Viktor Tsygankov halved the deficit just 15 minutes from time.
But it was the apparent mark of appreciation from Lucescu that got supporters talking after the game.
'My favourite moment from this morning's #UCL action has got to be Dynamo Kiev's manager asking Messi for his jersey,' wrote Optus Sport writer Michelle Escobar.
One fan wrote: 'Never heard of a manager asking a player for his jersey.'
Another claimed Lucescu 'was happy to have witnessed the great in this era'.
Messi, who came close to leaving Barcelona for Manchester City this summer after handing in a transfer request amid a crisis at the Spanish outfit, is often targeted for shirt swaps by players after games thanks to a spectacular career.
Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he has netted 638 goals in 740 games for his boyhood club and is their highest-scoring player in history.
Before the game, Lucescu has admitted his admiration for Messi and said he was 'doing something incredible' with the club.
'Messi is doing something incredible which is thinking about the team and not about him,' he told a press conference.
'He does things all over the field that someone else should do, he fights, gives assists and scores. He strives for the team and wants to help the younger players.'