In the city of Cutral-Có, located in the Neuquén province of Argentina, a 26-meter tall statue was unveiled in honor of football star Lionel Messi. It is recognized as the tallest monument dedicated to a footballer in the world.
The statue was made of 70 tons of steel by sculptor Aldo Beroisa. It depicts Messi holding the World Cup above his head.
The grand opening ceremony of the monument took place on June 16. This date also gained symbolic significance as it coincided with the day Messi scored a hat-trick at the 2026 World Cup.
Local authorities expect that this structure will serve to increase the flow of tourists to the region and become one of the new attractions of Cutral-Có.
At the same time, the statue's appearance from certain angles also sparked heated discussions among social media users.
