Soccer-Artists restore gigantic Messi mural in his hometown

By Miguel Lo Bianco

ROSARIO, Argentina, July 10 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi has had a fresh ‌lick of paint.

A 534-square-meter (5,748-square-foot) mural on the ‌side of a building in downtown Rosario, his hometown in ​Argentina, has been restored and inaugurated just in time for the top-scoring forward's World Cup quarter-final match against Switzerland.

The restoration of the mural, which ‌was originally painted ⁠in 2021, needed 300 litres (79 gallons) of paint, said Marlene Zuriaga, one of ⁠the project directors.

The work, titled "From another galaxy and from my city," also now boasts three stars on ​the giant ​Messi's jersey badge, one ​for each of Argentina's ‌three World Cup wins, and the word "Gracias!" ("Thank you!") at the top.

Global superstar Messi, now 39, became the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer during this tournament. But he got his start in ‌football at local Rosario team ​Newell's Old Boys.

"We called the ​mural 'From another galaxy' ​but in reality he's a human ‌like us, who had to ​deal with ​a lot of challenges from childhood, who was born among humble working people, who rose ​above it," ‌said Lisandro Urteaga, one of the artists.

(Reporting ​by Miguel Lo Bianco, Writing by Rosalba ​O'BrienEditing by Christian Radnedge)