While stars in the Premier League are seeing their fitness levels pushed all the way over the festive period, Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is seeing in the new year in a far more relaxing fashion.

With La Liga enjoying a short hibernation from matches, Messi has made the most of the break to spend time with his family before a big second half of the season.

In a heartwarming family photo, Messi is sat on his sofa with wife Antonella and his sons Thiago and Mateo.

Lionel Messi posed for a family photo with sons Mateo (L) and Thiago (R) and wife Antonella

The Barcelona superstar has been enjoying some family time during a short La Liga break

Fans of the Barcelona ace quickly picked up on the fact that his six-year-old son Thiago is wearing a Newell’s Old Boys shirt in the family photo.

While Messi is committed to Barcelona he has previously gone on record to say he sees himself, even if only for a few months, playing for boyhood club Old Boys.

December 30 represented the last Sunday of rest for Messi before attention swiftly turns to the second half of the season and the bid to add more silverware to his already glittering career.

Barcelona face Getafe on January 6 as they look to bolster their slender three-point lead over second place Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

Messi has a big second half of the season ahead as he looks to win another Champions League

The big challenge facing Messi and Co is whether they can go on to lift the Champions League for the first time since 2014-15.

That year they beat Juventus comfortably in a 3-1 win and with Lyon next in their path this time round, Ernesto Valverde’s side will believe they have a strong chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

A refreshed Messi can only be good news for Barcelona and they will be hoping this mini-break relaxing with his family will see him pick up where he left off.