Football Art: Argentinian Youth Team Unveil Spectacular ‘Sistine Chapel’ Ceiling Mural Featuring Maradona As God And Messi As Adam (Photo & Video)

Chris Wright

30th, April 2018

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Photo: Marcos Brindicci (via @ReutersUK/Twitter)

A youth football club in Buenos Aires have unveiled a spectacular new artwork that adorns the entire ceiling of their indoor sports hall.

Club Sportivo Pereyra commissioned local artist Santiago Barbeito to recreate Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel fresco in their gynasium, replacing God and Adam with Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi respectively.

The impressive piece cost approximately $20,000 and also features other Argentinian footballing luminaries like Juan Roman Riquelme, Gabriel Batistuta, Mario Kempes and Sergio Aguero as angels.

The mural, which was paid for by donations, is designed to help inspire the kids playing beneath it, who can look up and draw strength from the celestial beings above.

Speaking to Reuters, club official Sebastian Garcia said:

We were all kids and the ones that loved football wanted to be like our idols.

When a move doesn’t come off you look to the heavens, and when you ask God for a helping hand you have so many of them to choose from on this ceiling.

Twenty grand well spent, if you ask Pies!