Mural in Messi’s honour painted on his childhood house in Rosario

A grand mural honouring Argentine professional footballer player Lionel Messi has appeared in his childhood neighbourhood in Rosario - while the player performs in the Qatari World Cup.

Artists Marlene Zuriaga and Lisandro "Lichi" Urteaga of the “Imagina Pintura Mural” group painted the football star on the walls of his childhood home in Argentina.

Messi has become a source of pride for local residents, who hope he will one day come back to visit them.