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The Central Bank of Argentina considers Messi money after World Cup win

The Argentine star has certified himself as a legend and the organisation is considering including his image on 1,000-peso notes.

TOPSHOT - Argentina's captain and forward Lionel Messi (C) holds the FIFA World Cup Trophy upon arrival at Ezeiza International Airport after winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup tournament in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires province, Argentina on December 20, 2022. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)
LUIS ROBAYOAFP

Argentina achieved its third star thanks to the stunning World Cup 2022 victory. It was a win that could not have come at a better time for the albiceleste, as Messi had previously floated the idea of his last World Cup, despite the situation changing.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker (who may be about to sign an extension) led the Argentine team from start to finish, and even three goals from Kylian Mbappé wasn’t enough to beat them. It was an all-time classic final, in which France were on the verge of an historic comeback from 2-0 down, taking the game all the way penalties where only the 23-year-old PSG forward and Kolo Muani scored (4-2), ending up defeated at the final hurdle.

Now, in the middle of the party raging across all of Argentina, the rumours swirl around the figure of Leo Messi. In his country he has elevated his status to something beyond a legend: his shirt has sold out across the entire planet, he broke the Instagram record for likes, and now even the Central Bank has Messi on the mind, as reported by ‘El Financiero’: it is said that the star’s image could now appear on 1,000-peso notes.

Argentine fans have fully invested in this idea, and the streets have been filled with people around the famous Plaza del Obelisco. Now, they hope that the option of seeing Messi weaved into a banknote will come to light, and as the aforementioned media outlet points out, bank officials believe that these banknotes would become collector’s items.

Commemorative coins have already been issued

However, although it may seem like a novelty, the Central Bank of Argentina already had plans relating to football back in 1978, when the team became world champions for the first time and they issued commemorative coins, the same strategy that they followed with the 50th anniversary of the death of Eva Perón, former First Lady of the country.