Lionel Messi's latest tribute became the internet's hottest meme—and not in the way Argentina intended. An 85-foot statue honoring the soccer icon was unveiled in Patagonia to commemorate his 2022 World Cup victory, but fans reacted strongly to one very NSFW detail.
Messi's statue shows him kneeling over the World Cup trophy—except the trophy is positioned directly between his legs.
Artist Aldo Berosia originally envisioned the trophy in Messi's hands but moved it for "safety concerns." The new placement sparked backlash instead. One Instagram commenter wrote, "Looks like reverse cowgirl." Another offered: "Oh my.... This is Messy."
Fans noticed the statue is not wearing shorts, prompting: "Why does he not have pants on." One commenter suggested "Whoever approved this is a secret Ronaldo fan"—a reference to rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Artist Says He Focused on Getting the Face Right
Berosia, who typically sculpts dinosaurs and Jesus Christ statues, told the New York Times he was far more concerned with Messi's face than the trophy placement. "All the public opinion's eyes are going to be on the face," he explained. "If I don't get the face right, everything I built falls apart."
He became so focused on the facial features that he broke the statue's eyes and restarted them after his wife thought something was wrong.
What Berosia did not anticipate: the trophy placement would define the statue's meme life. The internet response was swift and ruthless. The effort to honor Messi's legacy produced accidental comedy instead.
