Childhood home, first club, childhood football field are places that tourists are often taken to visit by travel companies in Rosario.
Rosario is the third most populous city in Argentina (over 1.75 million people), about 300 km from the capital Buenos Aires. It is known for its many neoclassical architectural works, reflected in buildings and mansions dating back centuries. This is also where striker Messi was born and raised, so many of his imprints remain.
The first place that many Messi fans want to visit when coming to Rosario is his childhood home. The two-story house has an area of about 150 m2. According to neighbors, the house is still owned by the family and is inhabited. Address: Estado de Israel Street. Photo: Luong Thanh Chuong
On the side of the house is a mural depicting Messi sitting. Fabián Pécora, 49, a local resident, recalls the image of Lionel Messi returning home after a vacation in Barcelona, Spain. He sat on the sidewalk, in front of the house, with his old bicycle. “The first few times he came back from Spain, we woke up at 6-7am to see him there. Maybe he still wasn’t used to the time zone change.” Photo: Trend detail
Here is another mural of Messi on the vacant lot where he used to play with his friends as a child. Today, it is a football field. Address: Corner of Rua Juan Manuel de Rosas. Photo: Trend Detail.
The 69-meter-high painting by Marlene zuriaga and Lisandro Urteaga. This mural is part of an art project about Messi, which the author donated to the city. Visitors can find the work from afar when visiting the Monumento Nacional a la Bandera museum, located near the city hall. Address: Freedom Street. Photo: Trend Detail.
School Number 66 General Las Heras, located at 4800 Buenos Aires Avenue in Rosario, is Messi’s childhood school. Teachers who taught him in 1996 commented that Messi was shy and diligent in doing housework. In 2007, Messi visited his old school. Teachers said that the students were excited, and Messi was very friendly, stopping by each classroom to take souvenir photos. Address: Rua Buenos Aires. Photo: Trend Detail.
Another place visitors can visit and check-in is the mural of Messi, created by artists Marlene zuriaga and Lisandro Urteaga. The work is located a few blocks from Messi’s childhood school, painted in 2021, the occasion of Argentina’s Copa America championship. Address: Azara and Buenos Aires intersection. Photo: Trend Detail.
This mural depicts Messi and Ángel Di María, also from Rosario, a few metres from the giant 69-metre-high mural in the Parque Nacional a la Bandera. Address: Provincias Unidas Street. Photo: Trend Detail.
The Santa Fesino Sports Museum is the next destination for football fans in general and Messi in particular. The museum dedicates space to honor famous athletes in the province of Santa Fes, where the city of Rosario is located. It is open from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., four days a week from Thursday to Sunday and is free. Address: 4800 Ayacucho Street. Photo: Trend Detail.
Grandoli Abander Club is the first club Messi played for, when he was 4 years old. It is about 2 km from Messi’s childhood home, south of the city. This is a place that tourists always visit to see with their own eyes where Messi first started training. Today, the coaches and young players here practice hard, and are excited about the future of having bright stars like Messi today. However, this area is considered unsafe. Therefore, visitors should not walk around. Ideally, rent a car to ensure safety. Address: Gregorio de Laferrere Street. Photo: Trend Detail.
Finally, it would be a mistake to come to Rosario without booking a tour around the city. The city’s Department of Sports and Tourism has launched the Rosario Turismo app. Here, visitors can listen to the stories of Messi’s teachers, childhood friends, as well as those who played with him at his childhood club.
Since the distance between tourist attractions related to Messi is quite far, it is best to book a day tour, so that a tour guide will lead the way and present events and stories related to this famous player. Photo: Trend Detail.
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