Egypt's best-known archaeologist has apologised after he angrily called Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi "an idiot" because the striker seemed to show little interest during a tour of the Giza Pyramids.

Zahi Hawass, famed for his Indiana Jones hat and TV specials on Egypt's ancient sites, showed Messi around the Pyramids last month.

In a TV interview, he was asked about the Barcelona striker's reaction. "Messi is an idiot," he snapped.

"I was explaining the antiquities to him and there's no reaction in his face. I was explaining things that would make a rock react, but he was just like an idiot."

In a statement, Mr Hawass said he was expressing anger over an inefficient interpreter.

"I apologise to Messi and his fans for the misunderstanding," he said.

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