Published on 6/24/2026
In a scene that reflects the extent of Argentine passion for the star Lionel Messi, the manifestations of tribute in the 2026 World Cup are evident in their most beautiful images, through a towering statue and a public mural documenting the career of a leader who remains a source of inspiration in various parts of the country.
In the remote Patagonian town of Cotral Co, a giant 26-meter (85-foot) statue, made of about 70 tons of steel and iron, dominates the area’s outskirts, depicting one of the most influential players in football history.
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The statue shows Messi on his knees, with the 2022 World Cup between his legs, while raising his arm in a salute gesture, as if he was greeting passers-by on Route 22, in a symbolic scene that commemorates the most prominent moment of glory in his career.
Despite the strong winds that Patagonia is famous for, the monument has remained standing since its inauguration on June 16, coinciding with Argentina’s first match in the World Cup, which witnessed the team’s brilliance again under the leadership of Messi, after defeating Algeria with three goals.
Local authorities and the sculptor who designed the work confirm that this statue is the largest of its kind in honor of the captain of the Argentine national team, who turned 39 on Wednesday.
“He is Argentina’s natural ambassador,” sculptor Aldo Berruesa, 61, told The Associated Press. “For me, this monument was extremely important, not only as an artist but as an Argentine as well.”
Berwisa is known for his monumental works in Cotral Co, where he previously completed giant dinosaur statues and a monument to independence heroes, in a remote oil town that has not historically received the same attention as other areas of scenic Patagonia.
However, the scene in the city has changed today, as it is attracting an increasing number of fans who want to see this artwork that immortalizes the football player, who scored 18 goals since his first appearance in the 2006 World Cup, and this week achieved a new record as the tournament’s top scorer, after scoring two goals in Argentina’s victory over Austria (2-0).
The statue, which took 18 months to complete, embodies the moment of the 2022 World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, when Argentina won the title at the expense of France on penalties (4-2), crowning the world champion in one of the most historic moments in modern football.
Messi also appears at the monument holding the Argentine national team shirt with one hand, and raising his index finger towards the sky, in a gesture he used to make after scoring goals, in honor of the memory of his late grandmother, in a shot that sums up the human and symbolic dimension of his international career, after winning the 2022 World Cup.
