Football | international ball
The Argentine Football Association announced, on Saturday, that the national team training headquarters will be named after the iconic leader, Lionel Messi, in appreciation of his heroic role in winning the 2022 World Cup and his brilliant career.
Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, said on Twitter that the “Casa de Ezeiza”, which hosts the national team’s training in Buenos Aires, has now been named “Lionel Andres Messi” in honor of the best player in the world.
“We welcome you to the home of the world champions,” Tapia added, during a ceremony attended by contemporary and former players.
Messi ended Argentina’s 36-year wait to win the World Cup, equaling the achievement of the late Diego Maradona, after he led it to victory in the final over France on penalties in Qatar last December.
Messi, 35, said, “I am very happy. It is a very special tribute. Naming this place after Lionel Andres Messi is very beautiful.”
The World Cup was the missing piece in Messi’s amazing career, which includes winning the award for the best player in the world seven times, which is a record, in addition to crowning the Copa America, 11 league titles and four European Champions League titles.
Messi scored his 800th goal in his career during a 2-0 win over Panama in a friendly match in Buenos Aires, the first in front of Argentina fans since winning the World Cup.
He will lead Argentina in another friendly against Curaçao on Tuesday before returning to his club, Paris Saint-Germain.
