Lionel Messi thanks creators of Argentine mural with personal video message

Lionel Messi has personally thanked the artists behind a striking mural dedicated to him in Berazategui, Argentina, sending a video message that deeply moved the creators. What began as a local initiative by two neighbors, Federico Merodo and Leonel García, blossomed into a national talking point after Messi's heartfelt acknowledgment.

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Hello, guys. Well, nothing, I wanted to send you this to thank you for what you did for the drawing, for how you did it. The truth is, it's crazy.

The mural, located on Avenida Mitre 1368, features a monumental portrait of the Argentine captain. Its creation involved constructing a special wall, six meters wide and five and a half meters high, serving as the canvas. The artists dedicated nearly three months to the project, working six to eight hours daily, with the final touches applied on May 28.

Since its completion, the mural has become a focal point for the community, attracting over a thousand people who have signed the wall in a collective tribute. The project aimed to capture the unifying spirit that swept Argentina during their 2022 World Cup triumph. The creators shared their work online, tagging Messi and expressing their hope that the mural would convey the joy of that shared national experience.

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Hello Leo Messi, this humble tribute we made from Berazategui sought to replicate the joy of that 12/18/22 when you managed to unite all of Argentina, where no bias or ideology mattered, when only the joy of being Argentine prevailed.

Their message reached various public figures, including athletes like Sergio Agüero and Nicolás Tagliafico. However, the ultimate goal was Messi's own recognition. The superstar surpassed expectations by recording a video message, calling the artwork "crazy" and expressing his gratitude for the effort. He mentioned hearing about the desire for a simple 'like' but preferred to send a personal video instead, highlighting the impact of the Berazategui tribute.

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I had heard the idea was a like or to do something like that, but I preferred to tell you this via video, I thought...