The Argentine Football Federation (AFA) christened its training facility after Lionel Messi on Saturday.
“A new recognition was completed for our captain, who has already immortalized his figure through goals, dribbling, assists, and emotions, but now also with his name carved on the foundation stone of the new building that stands next to the entrance of the recognized first level property,” AFA said in a statement.
“From today on, this Sports Housing Complex in Ezeiza will bear a new name: ‘Lionel Andrés Messi,'” President Claudio Tapia stated in an address for the celebration.
Following the president, Messi ascended the stage and stated: “Thank you everyone very much for coming. I am grateful to ‘Chiqui’ (Tapia) for this honor; it means a lot to me. I’ve been coming to this property for 20 years and have always felt a very particular atmosphere there. Even now, every time I arrive, I feel a really specific spirit in this home.”
Messi, 35, guided Argentina to their third World Cup title in December at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.