The Argentina national teamโs training facility has been renamed after talismanic captain Lionel Messi in recognition of his World Cup heroics and star-studded career, the countryโs football association (AFA) said on Saturday.
The Casa de Ezeiza in Buenos Aires, which houses the national team set-up, will now be known as Lionel Andres Messi โin tribute to the best player in the worldโ, AFA president Claudio Tapia wrote on Twitter.
โWelcome to the world championโs house,โ Tapia said at the unveiling ceremony attended by current and former Argentina players.
Messi ended Argentinaโs 36-year wait for the World Cup, emulating the late Diego Maradona when he led them to victory against France in a pulsating final in Qatar in December.
โI feel very happy. This tribute is very, very special,โ Messi, 35, said after unveiling the plaque bearing his name. โKnowing it will be named Lionel Andres Messi is something very beautiful.โ
The World Cup had been the one piece of silverware missing from Messiโs extraordinary career, during which he has been voted the worldโs best player a record seven times and won the Copa America, 11 league titles and four Champions League titles among other major honours.
Messi scored his 800th career goal in Thursdayโs 2-0 win over Panama in a friendly in Buenos Aires โ Argentinaโs first game in front of their home fans since the World Cup triumph.
He will lead Argentina in a friendly against Curacao on Tuesday before returning to club duty with Paris St Germain.