Argentina football star Lionel Messi has been honoured with an 85-foot statue in a rural town in Patagonia.
Videos circulating online and seen by TNX Africa show the towering monument depicting the legendary forward on his knees, recreating his emotional celebration at Lusail Stadium after Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup on penalties against France.
According to ESPN, the 26-metre sculpture was created by 61-year-old local artist Aldo Beroisa using about 70 tonnes of steel.
It stands in Cutral Co, an oil-producing town in southern Argentina, where it has become a tourist attraction since its unveiling on June 16, 2026.
The unveiling came just days before Messi celebrated his 39th birthday on June 24. It also followed another major milestone after he scored his 17th and 18th FIFA World Cup goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria, surpassing former Germany striker Miroslav Klose's long-standing tournament record of 16 goals.
Although the statue has sparked debate online over its facial resemblance to Messi, it is now the tallest monument dedicated to the football icon. It surpasses the 70-foot statue unveiled in Kolkata, India, during a promotional tour last December.
That monument was dismantled earlier this month after authorities ruled it structurally unsafe due to the risk of swaying in strong winds.
Messi's popularity has also inspired other artistic tributes. In a suburb of Buenos Aires, muralist Leonel García spent 18 days creating a 20-foot-wide mural featuring the signatures of more than 1,300 travelling Messi fans. Local media reported that Messi later thanked the artist in a personal video message.
Messi has continued to rewrite the record books at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His goals against Austria made him the highest-scoring player in Men's World Cup history with 18 goals.
He also scored a hat-trick against Algeria, becoming the oldest player to score three goals in a Men's World Cup match, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo's previous record.
By extending his scoring streak from the 2022 knockout rounds into the 2026 tournament, Messi also set a new mark for scoring in the most consecutive World Cup matches.
After being rested for the opening hour of Argentina's June 27 match against Jordan, Messi came off the bench in the 60th minute and sealed a 3-1 victory with a trademark free kick after the defending champions had already secured top spot in their group.