Another tribute to an idol: the compound of the Argentine national team is named after Messi - voila! sport

On video: World Cup championship celebrations in Argentina (Photo: Reuters)

After years of attaching an asterisk to his name and endless doubts, Lionel Messi rose to an undisputed status in Argentina thanks to leading the team to win the 2022 World Cup. In the country, they are taking advantage of the superstar's stay in his homeland these days, in honor of the friendly matches against Panama and Curacao, and continue to glorify and praise.

Today (Saturday) a ceremony was held in honor of Messi in which it was announced that the training complex of AFA, the soccer association in Argentina, will henceforth be named after him.

Representatives and players from all 28 teams in the top leagues in Argentina, both in men's and women's soccer, were invited to the event.

In addition, management personnel and players from teams in the minor league also arrived, and former players who wore the blue-white uniforms in the 2014 World Cup, in which the Albiceleste lost in the final against Germany as I recall, were also present: Fernando Gago, Marcos Rojo, Sergio Romero, Javier Mascherano and Mariano Andojar were among them.

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At first it was reported that the new residential building inaugurated at the AFA training facility, the cornerstone of which was unveiled today by the president of the association Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia alongside the national coach Lionel Scaloni and Messi, was named after the national team captain, but later it was clarified that the entire complex will be named after Lionel Andres Messi and will no longer be named after the former president of the association, Julio Humberto Grondona.

The corner stone unveiled at the ceremony reads: "Residential building for athletes Lionel Andres Messi, named by the distinguished executive committee of AFA in honor of the revered icon and wonder of the Argentina national team."

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Messi, of course, gave a speech at the event, saying: "Thank you to everyone who came, it is not easy to gather everyone here, especially in this period. Thank you, 'Chiki', for this recognition which is very meaningful to me. I have been coming to this complex for 20 years and from day one I felt a very special energy, to this day I still feel that way in this amazing place. Even in the worst moments, which I had in the national team, I would enter here and forget everything. I arrived and felt happy to be here, and I still feel that way. That's why I am happy that after so many years, the place This one will bear my name. I'm one of those who think that such gestures should be made while the person is alive, and this gesture is extremely special because of the significance of this complex, the number of players and actresses who pass through here, and it's nice to know that he will be named Lionel Andres Messi."

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• Argentina national team

• Lionel Messi