Story highlights Lionel Messi has upset some Egyptians by donating a pair of his football boots

Shoes are considered one of the lowliest items in Arab culture

(CNN) It started out innocently enough.

The beloved Argentinian football player Lionel Messi offered a pair of his used football boots as a donation during an Egyptian television program on the private network MBC Masr -- a private network.

"One of the things he does is give charity all over the world and these will be among the donations he gives," Egyptian presenter Mona El-Sharkawy says as she sits across from the celebrity with the red and white boots held up to the camera.

"And he gave these to our program because we will start an auction for them. Messi, Thank you very very much."

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