Lionel Messi just got an immortalized as a statue to celebrate his all-time World Cup goals record, but some potty-brained people think the trophy could’ve been placed better.
The Argentinian forward, who now holds the record for the most goals scored in the World Cup with 18 total goals, was honored with a new 85-foot statue depicting him on his knees with a World Cup trophy between his legs. The statue was built in the Patagonian town of Cutral Col, with local artists erecting the statue using 70 tons of steel, as reported by ESPN.
It doesn’t exactly nail his likeness, but that’s not the aspect of the statue that has people talking. It’s more the placement of the trophy between his legs, which looks questionable at best and suggestive at worst.
“He is Argentina's natural ambassador. For me, it was very important, not only as an artist but as an Argentine,” said 61-year-old local sculptor Aldo Beroisa, who noted the statue took 18 months to finish.
This isn’t the first time Messi has been honored with a massive statue. In December, the Argentinian player toured India with his teammates from Inter Miami and encountered a 70-foot statue of his likeness produced in Kolkata, West Bengal that was ultimately deemed unsafe by authorities.
"The statue of the Argentine football legend was found [to be] unsafe," said West Bengal state legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee. "We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind." Authorities are considering finding a new home for the statue, but it was taken down earlier this month before any such plans came to fruition.
Check out some of the reactions to the new statue below.
