The Leo Messi Foundation has teamed up with the Josep Carreras Foundation in the fight against childhood leukaemia.

Dr Pablo Menendez of the Investigation Institute of the Josep Carreras Foundation is carrying out a study of a type of lymphoblastic leukaemia which especially affects babies under one year of age.

The Investigation Institute of the Josep Carreras Foundation was founded in 2010 and is the first investigation centre in Europe that specialises exclusively in leukaemia and malignant haematopoiesis.

This partnership with the Leo Messi Foundation will help drive this study into this rare type of childhood illness.

The Leo Messi Foundation will fund the project for two years.

The player has been very active with his foundation, supporting the Paediatric Cancer Centre of Barcelona, alongside Sant Joan de Deu, the biggest childhood cancer hospital in Europe.