Lionel Messi has been honoured with the tallest statue ever built in his likeness after an enormous 85-foot (26-metre) monument was unveiled in the Patagonian town of Cutral Co.
The steel structure, weighing around 70 tonnes, was revealed during Argentina’s FIFA World Cup campaign and depicts Messi celebrating his country’s 2022 World Cup triumph. Created by local sculptor Aldo Beroisa, the monument has quickly become a tourist attraction in the remote oil-producing town.
The new tribute surpasses the 70-foot statue unveiled in Kolkata, India, during Messi’s promotional tour late last year. That monument was later dismantled after local authorities raised concerns over the stability of its location, with plans to relocate it elsewhere.
The unveiling comes as Messi celebrates his 39th birthday and continues to add to his remarkable legacy, having recently become the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer.
