Kolkata, Sep 3

After their 1-0 win over Venezuela in a FIFA international friendly, Argentina paid homage to the Mother House, the headquarters of the Mother Teresa founded Missionaries of Charity, though their star striker Lionel Messi gave it a miss due to security concerns.

Messi, who was nearly mobbed even by security forces during the presentation ceremony last night trying to get a share of photos, remained at the team hotel.

The team members spent more than half an hour as they went to the Mother's tomb on the ground floor before heading to the chapel where the Mother used to attend prayers, sources at the Missionaries of Charity said.

Confirming that Messi did not come, the source said,"The main person (Messi) did not come. But they came in quietly, and visited the usual places. They left silently, paying homage to the Mother. They also visited Mother's room."

Recipient of the Nobel Peace prize in 1979, Mother Teresa's death anniversary is on September 5, the day Argentines are scheduled to fly to Dhaka for another friendly against Nigeria the next day.