Ironically, on the record picture
Messi celebrates with fake World Cup trophy
74.4 million people like Lionel Messi’s Instagram post of him lifting the World Cup trophy in Qatar. But many didn’t know: The trophy, which looks deceptively real, belongs to two fans from Argentina.
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Lionel Messi proudly presents the World Cup trophy to the world.
At home in Buenos Aires, Paula Zuzulich and Manuel Zaro have what Lionel Messi proudly holds in his Instagram record picture: their World Cup trophy. What almost nobody knew until now: The trophy with which the superstar of the gauchos celebrated after the epic World Cup final in Qatar is a deceptively real fake trophy.
It all started with a request for a signature
The Argentine couple had a replica made in the run-up to the World Cup and took it to the Lusail Stadium on December 18 for the final against France. “After the last penalty we took out the trophy and started to celebrate,” the two told the Clarin newspaper. «At some point a relative of Paredes came by and we called out to him. We wanted Leandro to sign the trophy for us.”
The fake trophy went down onto the pitch, where the Argentines happily celebrated their third World Cup title. And suddenly it ended up in the hands of Messi, who was sitting on Sergio Aguero’s shoulders. Euphorically, “La Pulga” held the (supposed) object of desire in the air. The photographers were busy snapping their pictures. One of them later appeared on the 35-year-old striker’s Instagram. To date, 74.4 million people (record) have given this a “like” heart without knowing that the trophy was not the original.
Messi was also exposed to the misconception for a while. He was enlightened by Angel Di Maria. The scorer of the 2-0 pointed to the bottom plate of the trophy during the celebrations on the pitch, and then the case was clear. Both couldn’t help but laugh.
Fifa folders were also fooled
Paula Zuzulich and Manuel Zaro did not believe they would ever recover their property. But after 45 minutes, Lautaro Martinez surprisingly brought the trophy back. On it were the signatures of the newly crowned world champions Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez and Lautaro Martinez.
Even the Fifa folders were initially deceived by the authenticity. They stepped in as the trophy returned to the stands. Only after looking at the underbody did they recognize the fake. (yup)
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