Messi statue vandalised in Argentina

A statue of Barcelona star Lionel Messi was vandalised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Monday, with culprits removing the head, torso, and arms before fleeing.

The 116-time La Albiceleste stud is in for a rude awakening the next time he'll beheading to the capital 300 kilometers southeast of hometown Rosario.

Buenos Aires city government has said it is working to rebuild the statue, but has - for the time being - wrapped it in black plastic.

"The statue of Lionel Messi ... was victim of an act of vandalism that left the footballer's sculpture without its top half," the Buenos Aires municipal government said in a statement, courtesy of the BBC.

"The city government is already working on its repair."

The statue, which was installed in June shortly after Messi and Argentina were bounced from a second consecutive Copa America final by host Chile, is one of several in the area on Paseo de la Gloria (Glory Street) paying tribute to the country's sports heroes.

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, Formula One champ Juan Manuel Fangio, field-hockey player Luciana Aymar, and tennis greats Gabriela Sabatini and Guillermo Vilas also have statues in the area.