(Reuters) - Lionel Messi stepped out of Diego Maradona's shadow by leading Argentina to World Cup victory last year and a statue of the diminutive forward will stand alongside those of his predecessor and Brazil great Pele at the South American federation's museum.
Messi, holding a replica of the World Cup trophy, stood beside the life-size statue at an unveiling ceremony at the South American Football Federation headquarters in Luque, Paraguay before the Copa Libertadores draw on Monday.
"I had never dreamed or thought about this," Messi said."My dream was to enjoy what I liked when I was little, to be a professional soccer player, to do what I always loved in this life. "I think that is the most important thing, to fight for your dreams, that everything is possible and to enjoy the game, which is the most beautiful thing there is."
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