RAMALLAH, August 3, 2013 (WAFA) – Lionel Messi, the world's number one football player, and his Barcelona teammates are expected Saturday afternoon in Palestine in their first visit ever to the area.

The Barcelona team is one of the most favored international football clubs in Palestine with loyal fans estimated it the tens of thousands.

The Palestinian dailies dedicated several pages in their Saturday issue to talk about this highly important event, the Catalonian club and its “Peace Tour” in the region, which would also take it to Israel after concluding its Palestine visit.

But while in Palestine, the Palestinian fans are going to enjoy one of the most important moments in their lives: watch the Barcelona team on one of their football fields.

The team is expected to arrive in Bethlehem at 5:00 in the afternoon. It will first visit the historic Church of Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, before meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas at his Bethlehem headquarters.

But before the team arrives at the stadium, Arab Idol winner Muhammad Assaf will entertain the crowds with some of songs they have heard him sing during the Arab Idol contest.

M.S.