In Argentina, Lionel Messi is no longer just a football legend. He is now quite literally a concrete deity. In Cutral Co, a colossal 26-meter-tall, 70-ton statue of the World Cup winner was unveiled on Sunday. The giant sculpture shows La Pulga kneeling with the World Cup trophy between his legs, one hand on his heart and the other pointing toward the sky, as if thanking the football gods… or perhaps celebrating his own achievements.
On paper, it sounded like the perfect tribute. In reality, social media quickly turned the unveiling into a comedy show. While nobody can deny the statue’s impressive size, its resemblance to Messi has become a hot topic. Many fans claim it looks more like Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni than the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
The statue’s bright white color has not helped either. Between comparisons to a religious monument, a giant ghost, and a video game character that failed to load properly, users on X have unleashed their creativity.
“The Ballon d’Or for the worst statue will be decided between Messi and Ronaldo.”
Things got even worse when fans brought up an old internet classic: Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamous statue that became a worldwide meme. “At last, Ronaldo has some competition,” joked one supporter. Another wrote: “The Ballon d’Or for the worst statue is going to be a two-horse race between Messi and Ronaldo.”
Fortunately for the Argentine icon, his football career has been far more successful than some of the artworks inspired by his face. At 39, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is still making headlines on the pitch. His statue, meanwhile, is making headlines online — and not always for the right reasons.
¡EN NEUQUÉN SE INAUGURÓ LA ESTATUA DE MESSI MÁS ALTA DEL MUNDO! 🇦🇷👀
La escultura realizada por el artista Aldo Beroisa se encuentra en Cutral Co, ciudad de Neuquén, y está ubicada sobre la Ruta Nacional 22. Supera a la estatua de Leo en India, que tiene 21 metros.
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) June 20, 2026
