'God of football' becomes a literal deity — a 26-meter Messi statue rises in Argentina

A colossal statue of Lionel Messi, widely hailed as the "god of football," has been erected in Argentina.

According to Argentine sports outlet TyC Sports and local business publication El Cronista, the statue stands 26 meters tall, weighs 70 tons and has been installed in Cutral Có, in Neuquén province. It is the largest Messi statue ever built. A previous 21-meter statue of Messi in Kolkata, India, was taken down after residents raised concerns about its vulnerability to strong winds.

Local media reported that the statue was conceived as a tribute to a figure who transcends sport, and that regional authorities backed the project from the outset. The process from conception to final assembly took about two years.

El Cronista reported that sculptor Aldo, who handled the design, drew inspiration from Messi's personal story and sought to capture his capacity for hard work and overcoming adversity.

Messi, universally recognized as the world's greatest footballer, has continued to shine at the ongoing North and Central America World Cup, leading Argentina to victory. He scored a hat trick in the team's opening group-stage match against Algeria, starring in a dominant win.

The hat trick brought Messi's all-time World Cup goal tally to 16, drawing level with the record held by Germany's Miroslav Klose for the most goals scored in World Cup history.