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Football
Argentina inaugurated a 26-meter-tall statue of Lionel Messi in Cutral Co, Neuquén, marking the tallest tribute to the football legend worldwide.
In Argentina, a statue recognized as the tallest in the world honoring football legend Lionel Messi was unveiled in the city of Cutral Co, located in the Neuquén province. The sculpture stands 26 meters high.
The statue depicts the captain of the Argentine national team wearing the "Tango" jersey, kneeling with his right arm raised upward. Between his knees rests the World Cup trophy, symbolizing his historic victory in the tournament.
The artwork was created by local artist Aldo Beroisa, who worked alongside a team of laborers and city residents. The project took nearly a full year to complete.
Messi, aged 38, is regarded as one of the greatest football players in history. He has won the Ballon d'Or eight times and holds the record as the top scorer in La Liga, for FC Barcelona, and for the Argentine national team.
With Argentina's national team, Messi secured two Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, as well as the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Both Messi and Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo are the only footballers to have participated in six World Cup tournaments.
