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Giant Messi Statue in Argentina Draws Mixed Fan Reactions
🇬🇷 Greece /Culture & Society

Giant Messi Statue in Argentina Draws Mixed Fan Reactions

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A 26-meter statue of Lionel Messi has been erected in his hometown of Kutral Co, Patagonia, Argentina.
  • The statue, weighing 70 tons and taking 18 months to build, depicts Messi kneeling after winning the 2022 World Cup.
  • While impressive in size, the statue has drawn mixed reactions online, with some fans questioning its resemblance to Messi and others noting an unfortunate optical illusion with the World Cup trophy.

Lionel Messi has been honored with a towering 26-meter statue in Kutral Co, Patagonia, Argentina. This monument, the largest ever dedicated to the national team captain, weighs 70 tons and was completed after 18 months of work. The sculpture captures Messi in a kneeling pose, commemorating his iconic moment after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Despite its grand scale, the statue quickly became a topic of social media discussion. Many fans pointed out that the facial features do not strongly resemble the football superstar. Others focused on the placement of the World Cup trophy, suggesting that certain angles create an unfortunate visual illusion.

A 26-meter, 70-ton Lionel Messi statue has been built in Argentina.

— World Cup 2026Describing the newly erected statue.

Nevertheless, the monument has already become a landmark for football fans, attracting numerous visitors to the region. The artist, Aldo Berrois, stated his intention was to honor not only the great player but also the man who symbolizes Argentina.

It’s giving the Ronaldo statue a run for its money…😬

— Sleeper FootballCommenting on the statue's appearance in comparison to another controversial statue.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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