SAO PAULO: Lionel Messi dedicated Argentina’s World Cup semi-final victory to an Argentine journalist who was killed on Wednesday morning ahead of their game against the Netherlands.

Jorge ‘Topo’ Lopez — who was covering the tournament for La Red Radio — died when a stolen vehicle involved in a police chase collided into the taxi he was travelling back to his hotel in.

The 38-year-old previously worked in Barcelona for Sport newspaper, where he became one of Messi’s favourite journalists, and the 27-year-old paid tribute to him after the penalty shoot-out victory sealed a place in Sunday’s final for the Albiceleste.

Messi wrote on Facebook: “I’m sending a big, big hug to the whole of Argentina and a souvenir to Jorge ‘Topo’ Lopez, this victory is especially also for you, my friend. A big hug to the family and lots of encouragement.”

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) paid tribute to Lopez on Twitter before Argentina took on Netherlands in Sao Paulo.

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“The AFA has a deep regret at the death of journalist Jorge ‘Topo’ Lopez and send their heartfelt condolences to his wife, his children and family, as well as his colleagues,” the AFA tweeted.

Lopez is the second Argentinean sports reporter to die in Brazil on World Cup duty.

Last week, Maria Soledad Fernandez died in a car accident traveling to Belo Horizonte from Sao Paolo.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2014