Messi statue vandalised in Argentina outside El Nuevo Mundial café PHOTO

The statue of football star Lionel Messi outside the El Nuevo Mundial café in Mar del Plata has been destroyed in an act of vandalism during the early hours of Sunday, November 30.

According to the café’s owners, two young people who had been seen loitering in the area pushed over the life-size figure at around 6 a.m., causing it to fall and break on the pavement, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Images obtained by local media show the statue heavily damaged, with the World Cup trophy it was holding also shattered.

The sculpture was created in 2018 by local artist Rodolfo Bayón and had recently been restored ahead of the last Copa América. Over time, it had become one of the most photographed attractions in the area and a recognisable landmark for both tourists and residents.

On Sunday morning, however, the scene was very different, with the broken figure lying on the pavement outside the closed café. Neighbours who passed by said they were shocked and saddened by the damage.

The café is closed on Sundays, meaning there were no staff present at the time of the incident.

Regular customers and local residents have condemned the attack, while the café’s owners are now considering what steps to take and whether the statue can be restored. An investigation into those responsible is expected to follow.

By Aghakazim Guliyev