Barcelona forward Lionel Messi turns 31 today and to celebrate the same his fans made a life-size chocolate figure in Moscow. The team of five people worked on the sculpture and intended to give a surprise to give Messi a surprise gift on his 31st birthday. The sculpture will be put up for display in Cr, a town located about 50 kilometres from Moscow.

“We found out by chance that it was Messi’s birthday on June 24,” said chief confectioner Daria Malkina. “And we thought, ‘why not make Leo a gift, a chocolate sculpture of himself’?”  Malikana has been in touch with the Barcelona forward’s representative. “We will give Lionel Messi to Lionel Messi,” Malkina said, laughingly.

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Messi’s team Argentina is having a tough time in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Placed in Group D, the team lost to Croatia by 0-3. This has been the first time ever that the team has lost so badly after 1974. The team was trolled left right and centre for their performances in their mega event. A channel from Argentina also offered a two-minute long silence to mark the death of the national team after the game. The presenters who are currently based in Moscow for the FIFA World watched how dreadfully the team performed during the match against Croatia. The panel which comprises 6 men, came together and bowed their heads in silence after the game. The video of the same went viral. The team will next play against Nigeria on June 26.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2018 12:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).