Messi mural signed by 1,000 neighbors becomes viral sensation in Buenos Aires suburb

In Berazategui, a suburb of Buenos Aires, a vibrant mural of Lionel Messi has captured the hearts of the community and gone viral. The artwork, located on a wall in a local parking lot, is adorned with more than 1,000 signatures and messages from residents, transforming it into a collective tribute.

The project was conceived by muralist Leonel García, 32, who sought a distinctive way to honor Messi following Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph. "As there are already many murals, it had to have a differentiating factor. My idea was to have everyone sign, put their name and a greeting to Messi for the World Cup," García explained.

To realize this ambitious vision, García partnered with Federico Merodo, 23, owner of the parking lot. Together, they constructed a custom brick wall, six meters wide and five and a half meters high, to serve as the canvas. Merodo also leveraged social media to secure sponsorships for the project's costs.

García dedicated 18 days to painting the mural, working six to eight hours daily with a limited palette of eight colors to create the nuanced portrait. The community's anticipation grew as the artwork progressed, culminating in a special event on May 29th where over 1,100 people added their signatures. "Many were left out because the wall couldn't accommodate everyone," García noted.

The mural's impact extended far beyond local borders, with images spreading rapidly online and being shared by sports and cultural figures. On June 3rd, the tribute reached Messi himself, who responded with a video message expressing his gratitude. "It was crazy. Thank you very much to you and all the people who supported you, who came and continue to come," the footballer said. For García, the message was a profound artistic milestone, far exceeding their initial hope for a simple social media 'like'. The next goal for the project's organizers is to obtain Messi's original signature to add to the mural.

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As there are already many murals, it had to have a differentiating factor. My idea was to have everyone sign, put their name and a greeting to Messi for the World Cup.