Argentina soccer players attend the unveiling of a Diego Maradona statue outside Madre de Ciudades stadium before their qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 against Chile in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Agustin Marcarian, Pool via AP)
The Associated Press
BUENOS AIRES (AP) - Lionel Messi was among the Argentina players and coaches who paid tribute to Diego Maradona in a statue unveiling ceremony before their World Cup qualifier on Thursday against Chile.
Maradona died on Nov. 25 in Buenos Aires after cardiac arrest. He was 60.
Days later, Messi paid his respects by celebrating a goal for Barcelona with the shirt of Argentine club Newell's Old Boys, where the 1986 World Cup winner had also played.
Argentina's last official match took place weeks before Maradona died.
Messi, his teammates and coach Lionel Scaloni watched the unveiling of a bronze statue of the soccer great at the Único Madres de Ciudades stadium, in Santiago del Estero.
The statue depicts a defiant Maradona, hand on his waist and a ball at his feet. An inscription on it reads "Diego Maradona, 1960-2020'ť and a symbol representing infinity.
Later players also entered their match against Chile wearing a shirt featuring Maradona.
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Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, and Argentine Football Association, (AFA) President Claudio Tapia attend the unveiling of a Diego Maradona statue outside Madre de Ciudades stadium prior to a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 between Argentina and Chile in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Agustin Marcarian, Pool via AP)
The Associated Press
A statue of late soccer legend Diego Maradona stands outside Madre de Ciudades stadium after its unveiling prior to a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 between Argentina and Chile in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Agustin Marcarian, Pool via AP)
The Associated Press
A statue of late soccer legend Diego Maradona stands outside Madre de Ciudades stadium after its unveiling prior to a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 between Argentina and Chile in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (Agustin Marcarian, Pool via AP)
The Associated Press