The tributes continue to pour in for Lionel Messi following Argentina's World Cup triumph as the Argentine superstar and his team have received a tribute from Conmebol, just right before the draw for the Copa Libertadores.
South American football governing body on Monday presented the 35-year-old Argentine star a with statue, which will be placed in the CONMEBOL museum next to those of legendary players Pele and Diego Maradona.
“As I said the other day, we are experiencing a very beautiful, very special moment. We were lucky to return to play in Argentina after being World Champions for the first time and we are receiving many signs of affection. Many people around the world were happy for us, for me, for being world champions and for bringing the cup to South America again," said Messi.
"This is very often and we don't stop. We think about what's coming and not about what we did, I think this is for life.
Here I saw many world champions who told us that, surely they It also happened to them, that to this day they are recognized and they don't even remember the moments when they were world champions. I am fulfilled with this (cherishing the World Cup), it was what I was missing, " confessed Messi.