Key Insights
- Statue Unveiling: A statue of Lionel Messi was recently unveiled in Patagonia, Argentina.
- Placement Issue: The World Cup trophy was awkwardly placed between Messi’s legs in the statue.
- Fan Reactions: Fans criticized the statue’s design on social media, noting its unintended implications.
- Artist’s Explanation: Artist Aldo Berosia moved the trophy for safety reasons, despite initial plans for it to be held in Messi’s hand.
The latest tribute to Lionel Messi missed the mark.
After an 85-foot statue was put up in Patagonia, Argentina in honor of the famed soccer player during the FIFA World Cup, fans took note of an awkward, NSFW mistake.
Messi’s statue sees the player donning an Argentina jersey and kneeling over a World Cup trophy, which is placed directly between his legs.
While artist Aldo Berosia told the New York Times that his statue of Messi was envisioned with the Argentina native—who helped lead his country to a win in 2022—holding the World Cup trophy in his hand, he had it moved to between his legs citing safety concerns.
However, fans took note that the trophy’s new placement between the Messi statue’s kneeling legs was not ideal.
As one fan wrote in a comment about the statue on Instagram, “Looks like reverse cowgirl.”
Another added, “Oh my…. This is Messy.”
And since the statue had no shorts to match its Argentina jersey, one fan posited, “Why does he not have pants on.”
