South American soccer’s governing physique on Monday introduced the 35-year-old Argentine star a with statue, which can be positioned within the CONMEBOL museum subsequent to these of legendary gamers Pelé and Diego Maradona.

Messi additionally obtained replicas of the World Cup and the Finalissima trophy, which Argentina gained in opposition to Italy, in the course of the ceremony earlier than the Copa Libertadores draw. His teammates and coach Lionel Scaloni obtained miniature trophies as effectively, together with that of the 2021 Copa America lifted in Brazil.

“We are living a very special and beautiful moment, getting a lot of love,” Messi mentioned in the course of the tribute. “It was time for a South American team to win the World Cup again.”

Argentina beat Panama 2-0 on Thursday in Buenos Aires in its first worldwide pleasant since successful the World Cup title in Qatar final December. Scaloni’s staff will face Curacao on Tuesday to have a good time with its followers within the countryside metropolis of Santiago del Estero.