The new AFA housing complex for the players in Ezeiza will be called Lionel Andrés Messi.

In a ceremony on Saturday, AFA president Chiqui Tapia paid tribute to the Best player in the world by making the announcement. Argentina national team players as well as his former team mates from the 2014 World Cup and local league players were in attendance.

AFA president Claudio Tapia started the ceremony and had this to say:

“Today is a very special day for our football and for our home. We thank those who are present, the leaders and our league captains.

“In 2017, we had to start to rebuild our football and within that was the building. It will become the new home of the national teams, with three floors of hotels, a training and high performance center, amenities, meeting rooms, recovery rooms and an auditorium.

“It’s not only the inauguration of this project but also the housing complex of Ezeiza which will bear the name of Lionel Andrés Messi.”

Lionel Messi also spoke at the ceremony. Surrounded by his current team mates in the Argentina national team, Messi had this to say:

“I want to thank (AFA president) Tapia for the recognition, which is very exciting. I have been coming to the camp for almost 20 years and from the first day I entered I felt a very special energy.

“Knowing that the housing complex is going to be called Lionel Andrés Messi is something very nice. It’s special because of what it means and because of the number of players who pass by.

“I went through hard times, it was getting here and feeling happy to be in this place. I am one of those who thinks that tributes have to be done while alive and this recognition is special and means a lot.”

Messi’s former team mates of the Argentina national team, most notably from the 2014 World Cup were also in attendance. Mariano Andújar, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Romero, Marcos Rojo and Maxi Rodríguez were all present for the announcement.

The unveiling of the Lionel Messi plaque.pic.twitter.com/RZDO7J2YJC

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) March 25, 2023

The new AFA housing complex in Ezeiza will be called Lionel Andrés Messi. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/akUO0yQutg

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) March 25, 2023

Mariano Andújar, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Romero, Marcos Rojo and Maxi Rodríguez are in attendance! pic.twitter.com/NQbZR3l1pq

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) March 25, 2023

Lionel Messi gave a speech following Argentina’s 2-0 win vs. Panama.

Messi scored Argentina’s second goal of the match vs. Panama and the world’s best player gave a speech in front of a packed Monumental crowd. It was a ceremony full of fireworks and emotions which was kicked off by a Lionel Messi speech.

The World Cup winner was the only player to speak to the fans at the Monumental after the win. Here is what he had to say:

“I want to thank all of you for the affection we have been receiving. Not only for being world champions but also for the Copa America. We had said that we were going to do everything we could for this.

“Personally, I have always dreamed of this moment. To be able to celebrate with you, to come to my country, to Argentina, to lift a Copa America, the Finalissima and the greatest one, which is the World Cup.

“Today is our day, where we are celebrating the champions, but I don’t want to forget all the teammates who were there before, who also did their best to win the cup. Who also did their best to achieve this and we were very close to the Copa America and the World Cup. They deserve all the recognition of the Argentine people because they also gave their all for this shirt.

“I’d like to thank all my previous coaches who also tried everything possible for this. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.

“Hopefully it won’t take so many years. It has been shown that it is very difficult to win the World Cup. It depends on many things, not only on a great group and a great team and sometimes it’s not possible to win it because of details. So let’s enjoy the third start.

A standing ovation for Lionel Messi.pic.twitter.com/uZvL1Kz6wS

— Mundo Albiceleste ⭐🌟⭐🇦🇷 (@MundoAlbicelest) March 24, 2023