(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MESSI'S OWNER, ALEKSANDR DMITRIEV, SAYING: "As much as I attached to him as much he is attached to me. In fact we have this very strong bond between each other. When for example ...

SARANSK, Russia, June 22 (Reuters) - Barely 20 months ago a Russian couple were oblivious of the basic rules of soccer. Now they are ardent fans and the transformation can only be attributed to Messi ...

Penza, Russia (WLNS-TV) Aleksandr Dmitriev, lives in his home in Russia with his pet Puma, Messi. While we all know this is not the typical house cat, Dmitriev says he has trained the Puma pretty well ...

FILE PHOTO: Aleksandr Dmitriev plays with his family pet Messi, a two-year-eight-month-old cougar, in the town of Penza PENZA, Russia (Reuters) - In the mornings, Aleksandr Dmitriev is woken by his ...

PENZA, Russia (Reuters) – In the mornings, Aleksandr Dmitriev is woken by his pet cat Messi nuzzling against his neck. Messi loves having his fur combed, and bounding around batting at a large green ...