Argentina Unveils Controversial Lionel Messi Statue Ahead of World Cup

WHO:

AP - The designer of the statue, Aldo Beroisa, stated that the statue is unfinished.

Fast Company - Lionel Messi, Aldo Beroisa (designer of the statue)

WHAT:

Fast Company - The statue's design includes blue paint to depict Argentina's jersey, while the rest of the sculpture is left white, creating an illusion that Messi is not wearing pants.

Fast Company - The statue has gone viral for its suggestive appearance, with social media users commenting on the placement of the World Cup trophy between Messi's legs.

Fast Company - The statue shows Messi kneeling while holding one hand to his chest and holding his jersey, with the other held up in the air triumphantly.

Fast Company - The statue includes a copy of the World Cup trophy placed directly between Messi's legs.

Fast Company - An 85-foot statue of Lionel Messi was unveiled.

Fast Company - The statue weighs around 60 tons and took 18 months to craft.

Fast Company - The statue depicts Messi kneeling while holding his jersey and the World Cup trophy.

Fast Company - Social media users reacted to the statue, commenting on its suggestive appearance.

Sportskeeda - Netizens reacted to the unveiling of the statue amid the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

WHERE:

Fast Company - The statue was unveiled in Cutral Có, Argentina, in the Patagonia region.

WHEN:

Sportskeeda - Messi is reportedly looking to play Argentina's final 2026 World Cup group J game against Jordan on June 27 at Dallas Stadium, Arlington.

Fast Company - The statue was unveiled as Messi returns to the international stage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and coincides with his 39th birthday.

WHY:

Fast Company - The designer, Aldo Beroisa, stated in an Instagram post that the statue is unfinished due to time constraints, explaining, "Due to the limited time with which the work was requested we worked tirelessly day and night to present the statue on the scheduled date."

Fast Company - The designer explained that the statue's completion with all details was not possible within the time frame due to the limited time with which the work was requested.

Fast Company - The statue was created to commemorate Messi's iconic pose during his 2022 World Cup victory over France.

Fast Company - The designer stated that the statue was unfinished due to time constraints.

HOW:

Fast Company - The statue was crafted over a period of 18 months.

(UPDATED June 27, 2026 01:36 UTC)

A new statue of Lionel Messi has gone viral, featuring a design that uses blue paint to represent Argentina's jersey while leaving the rest of the sculpture white, creating an illusion that Messi is not wearing pants. Social media users have been particularly amused by the placement of the World Cup trophy between Messi's legs. The designer, Aldo Beroisa, explained in an Instagram post that the statue is unfinished due to time constraints, stating, "Due to the limited time with which the work was requested we worked tirelessly day and night to present the statue on the scheduled date."

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 23:20 UTC)

Aldo Beroisa, the designer of the new statue of Messi, has revealed that the artwork remains unfinished due to time constraints. The statue depicts Messi kneeling with one hand on his chest and the other raised triumphantly, featuring a replica of the World Cup trophy positioned between his legs. Meanwhile, Messi is set to play in Argentina's final group J match against Jordan on June 27 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.

(UPDATED June 26, 2026 21:23 UTC)

An impressive 85-foot statue of Lionel Messi was unveiled in Cutral Có, Argentina, weighing around 60 tons and taking 18 months to craft. The statue depicts Messi kneeling while holding his jersey and the World Cup trophy, commemorating his iconic pose during the 2022 World Cup victory over France, and it coincides with his return to the international stage for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup and his 39th birthday. Social media users have reacted to the statue's unveiling, with some commenting on its suggestive appearance, while the designer noted that the statue remains unfinished due to time constraints.