AFA training facility renamed after Messi
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A5G(NTINA-The Argentina national team’s training facility has been renamed after talismanic captain /ionel Messi in recognition of his World Cup heroics and star-studded career, the country’s football association AFA said on Saturday.
The Casa de (]ei]a in Buenos Aires, which houses the national team set-up, will now be known as /ionel Andres Messi µin tribute to the best player in the world’, AFA president Claudio Tapia wrote on Twitter.
“Welcome to the world champion’s house,´ Tapia said at the unveiling ceremony attended by current and former Argentina players. Messi ended Argentina’s 3 -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. “I feel very happy.
This tribute is very, very special,´ Messi, 3 , said after unveiling the plaque bearing his name. “Knowing it will be named /ionel Andres Messi is something very beautiful.´
Silverware
The World Cup had been the one piece of silverware missing from Messi’s extraordinary career, during which he has been voted the world’s best player a record seven times and won the Copa America, 11 league titles and four Champions /eague titles among other maMor honours. Messi scored his career goal
th in Thursday’s - win over Panama in a friendly in Buenos Aires - Argentina’s first game in front of their home fans since the World Cup triumph.
+e will lead Argentina in a friendly against Curacao tomorrow before returning to club duty with Paris St Germain.