A statue of Lionel Messi was erected in the city of Kutral-Ko
Lionel Messi, the captain of the Argentine national team and a renowned figure in world football, has received another great honor in his homeland. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
A majestic 26-meter statue of the footballer has been erected in the city of Cutral-Có, Patagonia. This monument once again confirms not only the athlete's achievements but also that he has become a symbol for the entire country.
Goal.com reports that this structure, consisting of 70 tons of steel, was meticulously prepared over 18 months by local sculptor Aldo Beroisa.
The statue depicts the symbolic moment of Lionel Messi kneeling at the Lusail Stadium after the victory in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar. Additionally, he is portrayed in his traditional goal celebration, pointing to the sky to pay tribute to his late grandmother.
In an interview with The Associated Press regarding the world-record monument, sculptor Aldo Beroisa emphasized that Messi is Argentina's natural ambassador and that this work was very important not only as an artist but as an Argentine. With its dimensions, this statue has become the largest monument ever erected in honor of Lionel Messi in the world.
It is worth noting that previously, a 21-meter statue had been installed in honor of the footballer in the city of Kolkata, India. However, West Bengal officials ordered it to be dismantled into parts for safety reasons.
According to a local lawmaker, the statue in India had begun to sway due to strong winds, creating a dangerous situation. The new monument in Patagonia, with its sturdy steel construction, is free from such risks.
Speaking of historical results and new records, the opening ceremony of the statue coincided with the next historical achievements in Lionel Messi's career. The 38-year-old forward recently scored a brace in a match against Austria, bringing his total number of goals in World Cup history to 18.
Thus, he broke the long-standing record set by Germany's Miroslav Klose, becoming the all-time top scorer in the tournament's history. Despite being on the verge of turning 39, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who currently plays for Inter Miami in the USA, continues to demonstrate a high level of play.
Although the city of Cutral-Có is traditionally considered an industrial center, a sharp increase in tourist flow has been observed in the region since the installation of this monumental statue. This indicates that the wave of "Messimania" remains strong even in the remotest areas of Argentina.
Source: Goal.com
