The Inter Miami forward has been immortalised in the Patagonian town of Cutral Co with a 70-ton steel structure that highlights his influence on Argentine football.
Created by local sculptor Aldo Beroisa over 18 months, the statue captures Messi’s emotional celebration after Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Lusail, where he famously fell to his knees.
The artwork also shows him holding his national team jersey and pointing to the sky, a gesture dedicated to his late grandmother.
Beroisa described Messi as Argentina’s natural ambassador, stressing the personal and national pride behind the project.
"He is Argentina's natural ambassador," he told The Associated Press.
"For me, it was very important, not only as an artist but as an Argentine."
The monument has already attracted increased tourism since its unveiling, surpassing previous tributes such as the 70-foot statue displayed in Kolkata during a promotional tour in India.