Reuters
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Lionel Messi stepped out of Diego Maradona’s shadow by main Argentina to World Cup victory final 12 months and a statue of the diminutive ahead will stand alongside these of his predecessor and Brazil nice Pelé on the South American federation’s museum.
Messi, holding a duplicate of the World Cup trophy, stood beside the life-size statue at an unveiling ceremony on the South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL) headquarters in Luque, Paraguay earlier than the Copa Libertadores draw on Monday.
The 35-year-old emulated the late Maradona by main Argentina to their first World Cup triumph in 36 years in Qatar in December.
“I had never dreamed or thought about this,” Messi stated. “My dream was to take pleasure in what I preferred after I was little, to be an expert soccer participant, to do what I at all times beloved on this life.
“I had a really lengthy street, many selections and defeats, however I at all times seemed forward and wished to go for a triumph, for a victory.
“I think that is the most important thing, to fight for your dreams, that everything is possible and to enjoy the game, which is the most beautiful thing there is.”
The Argentina gamers and coach Lionel Scaloni additionally acquired miniature trophies of the World Cup and the Copa América, which they received in 2021.
The Argentine Football Federation renamed the nationwide crew’s coaching facility after Messi on Saturday, two days after he scored his 800th profession objective in a 2-0 pleasant win over Panama.
Messi has scored 99 objectives for his nation and would turn out to be the primary Argentina participant to web 100 worldwide objectives if he scores in Tuesday’s pleasant in opposition to Curaçao.
Source: www.cnn.com