70-ton Messi statue sparks debates due to controversial detail

The giant statue, located in the town of Cutral Co in Neuquen Province, depicts Messi in his Argentina national team jersey, kneeling with the World Cup trophy placed right in front of him between his legs while pointing one hand toward the sky.

Sculptor Aldo Beroisa stated that his original design called for Messi to hold the trophy up to recreate the historic celebration from the 2022 World Cup final. However, during the project’s development, engineering calculations determined that having the 70-ton steel and concrete structure hold the trophy would be unsafe, leading to its placement on the ground, The Indian Express reported.

However, the new position of the trophy sparked controversy and debates on social media. From certain angles, the statue creates accidentally inappropriate and suggestive imagery. Viral posts featuring multiple angles of the statue attracted millions of views in just a few days, drawing thousands of jokes from commenters.

“It looks quite odd from this angle,” one user wrote.

“They should build a wall behind the statue,” another commented.

Many fans leaned into the wordplay, dubbing it a “Messy” piece of art.

The statue of Messi has been criticized for its inappropriate design looking from a certain angle. Photo by X/@PicturesFoIder

Furthermore, because the lower part of the statue lacks the distinct definition of a complete match kit, some viewers questioned why Messi appears to be wearing only his jersey without shorts.

A few jokingly claimed that whoever approved the design must be a secret fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Many also argued that the statue’s face fails to capture the essence of Messi, suggesting that the Argentine legend deserved a more accurate tribute.

Beroisa defended his work, explaining that he dedicated nearly three months to recreate the face features as accurately as possible.

The city of Cutral Co unveiled the statue in mid-June to coincide with Argentina’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Positioned along Highway 22, it serves as a visual landmark for the Patagonian region.

The structure is officially the largest Messi statue ever made. It easily surpassed the previous record holder, a 21-m statue in Kolkata, India, which was dismantled earlier this year after residents reported it swaying dangerously in the wind, Business Today reported.

Messi himself has yet to comment on the statue. He and the Argentine national team have successfully secured their place in the knockout round of the 2026 World Cup, topping Group J with nine points while the captain scored six goals after three games and is currently holding the all-time scoring record at the tournament with 19 goals.