The Messi mural that brought together more than 1,100 neighbors and received a message from the world champion

Home Sport The Messi mural that brought together more than 1,100 neighbors and received a message from the world champion
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June 11, 2026June 11, 2026By Mario Vásquez
The Messi mural that brought together more than 1,100 neighbors and received a message from the world champion

On a wall erected in a parking lot in Berazategui, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the face of Lionel Messi stands out surrounded by more than a thousand signatures from neighbors.

The mural, promoted by two friends, became a viral and community phenomenon that even reached the footballer himself.

The initiative was born from a simple but ambitious idea. The muralist Leonel García, 32, sought to pay tribute to Messi after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with a work that stood out among the many dedicated to the Argentine captain.

“As there are already many murals, it had to be given a different value. My idea was for people to sign and leave a message for Messi,” García explained. To achieve this I needed a wall. This is how Federico Merodo, 23 years old, owner of the parking lot where the work stands today, joined the project.

“He proposed to me to do something that included all of Berazategui and I loved the idea,” Merodo related. Given the lack of an adequate surface, they both decided to build a brick wall six meters wide by five and a half meters high. In addition, they turned to social networks to get sponsors to help finance the project.

The mural took shape during 18 days of work, with days of up to eight hours, in which García used only eight colors to create the details of the Argentine star’s face.

As the work progressed, the neighbors’ expectations grew. On May 29, a call was organized to sign the mural. “More than 1,100 people participated. It was something historic for the municipality. There were even those who ran out of space to sign,” the artist said.

Messi’s message

The impact spread quickly. The images circulated on social networks and were shared by sports and cultural figures, until they reached Messi himself on June 3. The Argentine captain responded with a video in which he thanked the gesture.

“It was crazy. Thanks to you and all the people who came and continue to come,” he said. For the creators, the message exceeded any expectations. “We only expected a ‘like’ on social media, but he gave us a video. For me, as an artist, it is something unique,” Garcia stated.

Now, the next objective is to get an original signature from Messi to add to the mural. The work has already become a symbol of Berazategui and is projected as a meeting point for future celebrations of the Argentine team, a few days before a new World Cup.

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