This handout picture by Telam shows the president of the Argentine Football Association AFA Claudio Tapia second left Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni and Argentina's forward Lionel Messi unveiling a plaque on March 25, 2023 in Ezeiza, province of Buenos Aires. The country's football association AFA said on Saturday that the Argentina national team's training facility has been renamed after talismanic captain Lionel Messi in recognition of his World Cup heroics and star-studded career.
Lionel Andres Messi, the best player in the world AFA President Claudio Tapia wrote on Twitter that the Casa de Ezeiza in Buenos Aires will now be known as Lionel Andres Messi.
Tapia said at the unveiling ceremony that the world champion's house is in the hands of current and former Argentina players.
Messi ended Argentina's 36 year wait for the World Cup, emulating Diego Maradona when he led them to victory against France in a pulsating final in Qatar in December.
I feel very happy. Messi, 35, said after unveiling the plaque bearing his name, this tribute is very special. Its name Lionel Andres Messi is something very beautiful. The World Cup had been the only piece of silverware missing from Messi's extraordinary career, during which he won seven times the best player a record and won the Copa America, 11 league titles and four Champions League titles, among other major honors.
This handout photo released by Telam shows the President of the Argentine Football Association AFA Claudio Tapia left speaking next to Argentina's forward Lionel Messi center defender Lisandro Martinez second right and Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni right before unveiling a plaque on March 25, 2023 in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires province, with the name Lionel Andres Messi. PHOTO TELAM MAXIMILIANO JONAS AFP Messi scored his 800th career goal in Thursday's 2 0 win over Panama in a friendly in Buenos Aires - Argentina's first game since the World Cup triumph.
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He will lead Argentina in a friendly against Curacao before returning to club duty with Paris St Germain.