Published: 15:04, March 28, 2023 | Updated: 17:12, March 28, 2023
Messi statue to stand by Maradona, Pele at CONMEBOL museum
By Reuters

Argentina's Lionel Messi poses with a statue of himself holding the World Cup during a tribute by CONMEBOL to Argentina for their Qatar 2022 World Cup title, held before the draw for the Libertadores and Sudamericana football tournaments group phases, at Conmebol's headquarters in Luque, Paraguay, on March 27, 2023. (PHOTO / REUTERS)

Lionel Messi stepped out of Diego Maradona's shadow by leading Argentina to World Cup victory last year and a statue of the diminutive forward will stand alongside those of his predecessor and Brazil great Pele at the South American federation's museum.

Messi, holding a replica of the World Cup trophy, stood beside the life-size statue at an unveiling ceremony at the South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL) headquarters in Luque, Paraguay before the Copa Libertadores draw on Monday.

Argentina's forward Lionel Messi (center) receives a ceremonial baton of leadership from the president of Conmebol, Paraguayan Alejandro Dominguez (left), and the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio Tapia, during a tribute by Conmebol to the members of the Argentine national team for winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup, before the draw of the group phases of the Libertadores and Sudamericana football tournaments, at Conmebol's headquarters in Luque, Paraguay, on March 27, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

The 35-year-old emulated the late Maradona by leading Argentina to their first World Cup triumph in 36 years in Qatar in December.

I think that is the most important thing, to fight for your dreams, that everything is possible and to enjoy the game, which is the most beautiful thing there is.

Lionel Messi, Argentine professional footballer

"I had never dreamed or thought about this," Messi said. "My dream was to enjoy what I liked when I was little, to be a professional soccer player, to do what I always loved in this life.

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"I had a very long road, many decisions and defeats, but I always looked ahead and wanted to go for a triumph, for a victory.

"I think that is the most important thing, to fight for your dreams, that everything is possible and to enjoy the game, which is the most beautiful thing there is."

The Argentina players and coach Lionel Scaloni also received miniature trophies of the World Cup and the Copa America, which they won in 2021.

The members of the Argentine team who won the Qatar 2022 World Cup pose for a picture during a tribute by Conmebol held before the draw of the group phases of the Libertadores and Sudamericana football tournaments, at Conmebol's headquarters in Luque, Paraguay, on March 27, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

The Argentine Football Federation renamed the national team's training facility after Messi on Saturday, two days after he scored his 800th career goal in a 2-0 friendly win over Panama.

READ MORE: Scaloni: World Cup final not just Messi against Mbappe

Messi has scored 99 goals for his country and would become the first Argentina player to net 100 international goals if he scores in Tuesday's friendly against Curacao.