Lionel Messi’s statue in Argentina has been vandalized again!

On Monday, the famous bronze statue of Argentine Football star Lionel Messi was chopped off just above the ankles, with the main “body” left lying on the pavement.

It is the second time the statue, which was unveiled in June 2016, in Buenos Aires has been targeted by vandals and Police has said the motive for vandalising a statue still remains unclear.

Messi recently saved Argentina’s 2018 World Cup place when he scored a hat-trick against Ecuador in October.

The statue was unveiled in June 2016 on Paseo de la Gloria, where casts of other famous Argentine sports stars such as tennis player Gabriela Sabatini and basketball player Manuel Ginobili are also on display.

It has attracted vandals and thieves before, such as in January of this year, when the Messi statue was cut in half at the waist.