Lionel Messi is a special talent, and the Barcelona star now has a pair of special hand-painted boots produced by a Paraguayan artist.
Lili Cantero has presented the mercurial Argentine with some personalised footwear which honours his achievements as a footballer and a family man.
Among the moments to be captured within the design are Messi celebrating with Ronaldinho as a teenager and his iconic shirt-holding celebration during a Clasico clash with Real Madrid.
Wife Antonella Roccuzzo and children Thiago and Mateo also feature in a remarkable gift which has been well received by the talismanic forward at Camp Nou.
Cantero’s message on Instagram reads: “These boots were sent from my workshop to Barcelona as a gift for the player, they are completely hand painted.
“The boots are inspired by Messi's life, narrating with images his story and how he worked hard to reach the top.”
The footwear is unlikely to ever see a field of play, as they are far too precious to get caked in mud, but they can expect to take pride of place within Messi’s enviable collection of honours and accolades.
Lili Cantero
Lili Cantero
Lili Cantero
Image credit: All pictures courtesy of Lili Cantero Art & Design
Messi is the latest in a long line of sporting stars to have been used as inspiration by Cantero in her designs.
Among the other notable figures to have received a similar pair of boots are former Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz and ex-Bayern Munich forward Paolo Guerrero.
Messi will next be action, wearing boots of some description, when La Liga leaders Barcelona take in a Copa del Rey last-16 encounter with Celta Vigo on Thursday – with that two-legged contest currently locked at 1-1.
