dpa
Rio de Janeiro
World Cup champion Lionel Messi is to be invited to join the walk of fame at the legendary Maracana stadium in Brazil, the news portal GloboEsporte.com reported.
According to the report, the stadium co-administrator Suderj is to send the Argentinian football federation (AFA) a formal invitation on Monday.
The Maracanã’s walk of fame is an area dedicated to honour great football players. They are invited to place their feet (or hands, in the case of goalkeepers) in a plaster cast, which is then exhibited at the stadium.
Brazilian legends Pelé, Garrincha and Ronaldo, among others, have left their footprints in the walk of fame.
Messi would be the eight foreign player invited to join the group, which includes former Germany defender Franz Beckenbauer and Portugal great Eusebio.
If he accepts the invitation, he would be the first Argentinian player honoured at the space.
In 2014, Messi missed a chance of winning the World Cup title at the Maracana after his side was defeated 1-0 by Germany.
Messi to play on for Argentina
Messi promised he would play on for Argentina to experience "a few more games being world champion” after inspiring their triumph in Qatar.
Messi told TyC Sports: "Obviously I wanted to close my career with this, I can’t ask for anything any more. Thank God, he gave me everything. Closing almost my career like this, it’s impressive.” Messi knows his career is winding down, and he put in the work to make sure he was in prime shape for one last shot at the World Cup.
His emotional reaction after the final whistle, kissing the trophy at the first opportunity, reflected how dearly Messi wanted this moment.
A double in the final meant Messi became the highest-scoring South American player in major international tournaments with 26 goals - 13 in the World Cup as many in the Copa America. That took him one goal ahead of Brazil great Ronaldo, who previously held the record.
"After this, what will there be? I was able to get the Copa America, World Cup ... It came to me almost at the end,” Messi said "I enjoy being in the national team, the group, I want to continue living a few more games being world champion.
"It’s every little kid’s dream, I was lucky to have achieved everything and what I was missing is here.”