The statue of Lionel Messi located in the heart of Mar del Plata, a city in Buenos Aires province on the Argentine Atlantic coast, was once again the target of attacks. During the early hours of Sunday, the monument appeared with its legs cut off and visible heavy damage, practically destroyed in front of the El Nuevo Mundial restaurant and cafe. The figure, which represents the captain of the Argentine National Team lifting the World Cup, was reduced to a precarious torso with part of its structure broken. Get 20% off UEFA Champions League broadcasts in Spanish on DAZN. This is not the first time the monument has been vandalized, according to Infobae. Just over a year ago, the bust was decapitated in an act of vandalism that shocked residents and tourists. The statue had been placed in 2018 by the restaurant as a show of support during a difficult time for the National Team, marked at the time by its poor performance in the World Cup in Russia under the leadership of Jorge Sampaoli. Following the victory in Qatar 2022, the monument was rebuilt in 2024, reinforcing its symbolism for the city and for thousands of fans.

An attack amid tensions in Argentine football

The incident occurs at a particularly turbulent time for Argentine football. Recent decisions by the Argentine Football Association (AFA), coupled with controversial refereeing decisions in the First Division and the lower leagues, have intensified the climate of discontent. Rosario Central's "league" title win, achieved through a rule change announced earlier this year, and the sanction against Estudiantes de La Plata for the denigration of Rosario Central in the tunnel, added further friction to a situation in which Javier Milei's government is also engaged in a public confrontation with the AFA leadership. While there is no confirmed connection between the attack on the statue and this institutional dispute, the incident is part of a series of demonstrations and expressions of anger that have been multiplying. An example of this was what happened a week ago in Rosario.where the mural of Angel Di Maria at the entrance of the El Torito club was vandalized again. There, unknown individuals threw paint on the image and wrote the phrase "mercenary thief,"an act that fueled the controversy surrounding the awarding of the annual trophy to Rosario Central while the competition was still underway. So far, no one has been identified as responsible for the destruction of the statue. What is clear, however, is the outrage of the local community, which has once again seen a beloved symbol damaged. The monument was intended to honor Messi and recognize his impact on national sport, but once again he has fallen victim to intolerance.