Estadio Leo Messi: A gorgeous tribute to the Argentine that has gone viral

Posted Thursday, August 26, 2021 by Marca.com

An Argentine chef built the stadium with spectacular views in Mendoza

Estadio Leo Messi: A gorgeous tribute to the Argentine that has gone viral
The stadium named after Messi in Mendoza.

Lionel Messi already has a lot to show for his career. He's won the Ballon d'Or six times - more than anyone else - several LaLiga Santander titles, Pichichi crowns, a Copa America, Champions Leagues and countless other honours. Now, though, a fan in Argentina has shown his love for the former Barcelona captain by constructing the Estadio Leo Messi.

Located in Mendoza, 1,000 kilometres from Messi's native Rosario, the 'stadium' has no lights, no real pitch, no markings and no regulation-sized goals. Instead, it's a small pitch located in the mountains, with spectacular views over the Andes.

The idea was that of an Argentine chef named Francisco Javier Guardiola, who is no relation to the Catalan coach of Manchester City. He wanted to pay tribute to Messi by creating a stadium in the player's name.

Francisco's daughter, Maca, posted photos on social media of the stadium, writing: "My old man built himself a stadium in the middle of the mountains (Mendoza, Argentina) and named it Estadio Leo Messi.

"I need you to see it, please, it's my old man's dream. I think it's a better tribute than the one Barcelona paid him."

Ibai Llanos, who was tagged in the tweet, saw it and responded.

"Tell your dad that I love him," Llanos wrote.

"I wanted to pay a small tribute to someone who has given us so much happiness," Francisco Javier Guardiola told Ole. "He's part of history, not only in football but in art.

"It was my own simple tribute. It was secret, but my daughter made it go around the world."

It is not yet known if the photos have been seen by Messi.