This photo literally went around the world.
Lionel Messi (35) broke all records with his Instagram post after the World Cup triumph. His post garnered more than 74 million likes — the most in Instagram history.
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It shows the Argentinian captain with the golden trophy at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, among other things.
But now THAT: The World Cup trophy that Messi stretches up there into the night sky is said to have only been a replica.
Did Messi celebrate fake trophy?
According to a couple from Buenos Aires, they had it made and brought it to Doha as a talisman. After the end of the penalty shoot-out, the deceptively real-looking fake trophy made its way from the stands to the players.
Paula Zuzulich and Manuel Zaro, the couple who own the trophy, told the Argentine newspaper Clarin: “After the last penalty we took out the trophy and started celebrating. 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 cup thus found its way to the newly crowned world champions. They took him on their lap of honor, including Messi. The real trophy is said to have been sacked by Fifa after the official award ceremony to prevent damage to the trophy during the lap of honour.
This is how the replica of Paula and Manuel became famous: “Before the World Cup, we contacted people who make trophies. It took them six months to make it. It has the same weight as the original, is made of resin and quartz inside and is dipped in gold color. There are details, markings and reliefs that don’t look the same, but the difference is minimal.”
Allegedly, Messi was made aware of the fake by teammate Angel Di Maria (34). In one photo, Di Maria Messi shows the underside of the trophy. Is he showing him here that the trophy is a fake?
Here he still stretches the original in the air: Messi with the World Cup trophy at the award ceremony
The players celebrated with it for around 45 minutes, taking photos with their loved ones with the wrong trophy. It was Lautaro Martinez (25) who brought the trophy back to Paula and Manuel. They report: “Fifa staff came and asked us to confirm that it was not the original.” Then they had their now world-famous trophy back.
