Lionel Messi, alongside Pele and Diego Maradona, is being celebrated in a museum. However, the statue created in his likeness is a bit larger than life! Despite being 5ft 7in, Messi appeared slightly smaller than the incredibly lifelike figure placed next to him during a ceremony in his native country. Evidently moved, Messi proudly unveiled the statue, which will find its permanent home in the CONMEBOL museum in Paraguay. Following the event, fans wasted no time in declaring Messi the victor in the ongoing ‘statue battle’ with his longstanding rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. This comes after Ronaldo’s own statue, displayed outside the airport in his hometown of Funchal in Madeira, became a subject of mockery upon its introduction back in 2017.
CONMEBOL has decided to bestow Lionel Messi with an extraordinary honor by presenting him with a life-sized statue. This remarkable tribute will have the prestigious privilege of standing tall in their esteemed museum, amongst the revered legends of South American football.
Messi’s actual height falls slightly below that of his recently revealed, incredibly lifelike statue on Monday evening.
In the year 2017, a magnificent statue of Cristiano Ronaldo was proudly revealed to the world, showcasing the sheer grandeur of the legendary footballer. However, this marvelous tribute to his excellence and charisma endured for a mere 17 months before a new statue took its place.
Twitter users were quick to weigh in on the debate over who had the better statue, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Although Messi’s statue was replaced with an improved version in 2018, the original sculpture gained more online attention. Comparisons between the two players’ artwork led fans to declare Messi the winner of the “statue battle.” Some fans felt that Ronaldo was treated unfairly in comparison and pointed out that his statue did not receive as much care as Messi’s. The absence of a World Cup win for Ronaldo was also mentioned as a reason for the discrepancy in statue quality. In 2017, the sculptor of Ronaldo’s controversial statue, Emanuel Santos, defended his work, claiming that the Portuguese star actually liked it. Santos mentioned that he completed the statue in just 15 days after suggesting the idea to airport authorities upon learning of the stadium renaming plans. It’s worth noting that Ronaldo has multiple statues of himself, including a towering 8ft sculpture in his hometown.
Several fans have noticed that Messi’s statue bears a stronger resemblance to him compared to Ronaldo’s statue. The unveiling of Messi’s statue took place during a special event called ‘The Night of the Stars,’ where Argentina’s entire team was hosted by South America’s football governing body. This life-sized sculpture of Messi, depicted with the World Cup trophy in hand, will join statues of Maradona and Pele at the CONMEBOL museum in Luque, Paraguay. As the curtain was lifted, Messi’s teammates witnessed his visible amazement and overwhelming emotions. The 35-year-old expressed that the statue exceeded his wildest dreams. Reflecting on his journey, Messi mentioned that his childhood dream was merely to enjoy playing soccer and become a professional player. He acknowledged the long road, numerous decisions, and defeats he faced but always maintained his focus on triumph and victory. He emphasized the importance of fighting for one’s dreams, believing that everything is possible, and cherishing the beauty of the game.
Following his triumphant World Cup run, the Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, continues to make headlines by surpassing various records. Just recently, he achieved his 800th career goal, marking another milestone in his legendary football journey. Adding to his accomplishments, Messi was presented with the prestigious ‘baton of football’ by Alejandro Dominguez, the president of CONMEBOL. Accepting this honor, he was acknowledged for his outstanding leadership and command in the world of football. Argentina Football Association also paid tribute to Messi by naming their national team’s training ground after their iconic captain, further recognizing his contribution. However, amidst all the celebrations, Messi faced an overwhelming situation while dining with his family at a restaurant in Buenos Aires, where he had to leave due to immense crowds gathering around him.
The buzz of excitement filled the air as Lionel Messi made his way to the renowned Palermo restaurant, Don Julio. The mere presence of the beloved national hero caused quite a stir, leading to the closure of surrounding streets as eager fans flocked in hopes of catching a glimpse of the legendary football player.
The Number 10 had a smile on his face as he made his way through a crowd of adoring fans, who were ecstatic to see him. Messi, accompanied by his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their children, was enjoying a meal at Don Julio, a popular restaurant in Buenos Aires’ Palermo district. However, their peaceful dinner was disrupted when news of Messi’s presence in the area quickly spread.
Since his triumphant World Cup victory in Qatar, Messi has been consistently setting new records for the Albiceleste. In a recent friendly match against Panama, he not only paid a heartfelt tribute to the Argentina fans in Buenos Aires but also achieved a major milestone by scoring his 800th career goal, adding another achievement to his remarkable collection of seven Ballon d’Or titles.
In the upcoming game against Curacao, if Messi manages to find the back of the net, he will reach an incredible milestone of scoring 100 goals solely for his country. This is a testament to his incredible skill and dedication to the sport.
