Messi statue erected in honour of World Cup winner
LUQUE - World Cup winner Lionel Messi has his own statue at the South American Federation's museum.
He joins the football greats of Maradona and Brazilian superstar Pele.
La Pulga stood beside the life-size statue at the unveiling at the CONMEBAL headquarters in Paraguay.
The 35-year-old stepped out of Maradona's shadow when he lifted the World Cup in December.
Victory on football's greatest stage had evaded the Argentinians for 36 years.
Other players and coach Lionel Scaloni also received miniature World Cup and Copa America trophies.
The Argentine Football Federation renamed the national team's training facility after Messi on Saturday.
It came two days after he scored his 800th career goal in a 2-0 friendly win over Panama.
Messi has scored 99 goals for his country and will become the first Argentine to net 100 international goals if he scores in Tuesday's friendly against Curacao.