Hawas says Messi is a “moron,” later apologizes, blames translator

In a day of slow news coverage on Egypt in the international press, we found ourselves bawling with laughter at this gem:

Lionel Messi is a “moron,” Zahi Hawass, who showed the footballer around the pyramids, said. “I don’t think he was at all interested. I didn’t see any interest in his face in what I was telling him,” he said. Egypt’s patron saint of tour guides contrasted Messi’s visit to Will Smith’s, saying Smith is “an intellectual … He reads and asks questions all the time.” Hawas later apologized to Messi, saying his comments were misconstrued and that the Argentine speaking Spanish only was probably why there was not a clear communication line between the two, according to Al Mal. Instead, Hawas berated the translator.