Lionel Messi Honored with Monumental Statue in Argentina

Soccer star Lionel Messi has received an impressive 85-foot bronze statue in his hometown of Cutralco, located in the picturesque Patagonia region of Argentina. This statue is notable for being the largest representation of Messi to date.

However, the pose chosen for Messi might, well, raise a few eyebrows, especially when you think about what’s positioned right in front of him.

The statue features Messi seated with a replica of the World Cup trophy, which he is anticipated to win in 2022, placed on his lap. He’s depicted with a smile, one hand over his heart, and the other hand raised in triumph.

From the front, the statue seems decent enough. But the back view, well, that’s where things get a bit interesting—or perhaps controversial—which led to it going viral for the wrong reasons.

Various social media posts showcasing different angles of the statue have gone viral, with one post garnering over 8 million views on X within just about 12 hours.

It will be curious to see what Messi thinks about this tribute. I can’t imagine him saying anything negative; he’s quite graceful, and I suppose he appreciates the affection from his homeland.

The height of the statue is quite significant, surpassing the 70-foot tall statue in India, which had to be taken down and relocated due to stability issues at its original site.

Maybe, just maybe, this statue of Messi—or at least the trophy it features—should also undergo some relocation.