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Lionel Messi has donated almost £65,000 awarded to him by a court over a newspaper defamation case to charity.

The Barcelona superstar won a defamation case against Argentinean newspaper La Razón after it's criticism was judged to have been to vigorous.

Journalist Alfonso Ussia claimed Messi wore a toupee and used performance-enhancing drug Nandrolone when captain of Argentina's World Cup final-losing side in 2014.

Messi, named player of the tournament, was heavily criticised when they were defeated 1-0 by Germany in Brazil.

(Image: Getty Images South America)

The brutal opinion piece was judged to have been "unnecessary and impertinent for the exposition of the ideas or opinions that the journalist attempts to transmit in the article" in a court case last year.

The ruling said the article included comments that "are objectively insulting and offensive despite the dimension of the player's public image and the pluralism, tolerance and open spirit which should reign in a modern society".

(Image: FIFA)

With the ruling now finally been ratified by the judicial system, Mundo Deportivo report the full amount of €72,783.20 (£64,690) imposed on the journalist, paper and editor will be donated to Médecins sans Frontières.

Messi is fulfilling the promise to the charity made when the initial ruling was put down.

The charity, known in English as Doctors Without Borders, confirmed the donation by Messi has been made but has a policy of not commenting on celebrity endorsements.