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Messi, holding a replica of the World Cup trophy, stood beside the life-size statue at an unveiling ceremony at the South American Football Federation headquarters in Luque, Paraguay, before the Copa Libertadores draw on Monday.
In the early hours of Monday, his body arrived under fireworks in the city of about 430,000 people from Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein Hospital.
Here's a review of the best and low points in the world of sports in the past 12 months.
FIFA put his overall total at more than 1,200 - over 1,000 of which came for his first club, Santos.
Pele, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 82, visited India twice -- the first time in 1977 as part of the New York Cosmos team.
The legend died on Thursday aged 82 after a long battle with cancer.
At Museu de Pele, the legend welcomes fans from a giant screen with his innocent smile. Inside, his life and career are portrayed in an incredible collection.
The legendary footballer, who won three World Cups, has died aged 82.
He passed away after battling colon cancer.
The 82-year-old former world cup winner remains in a Sao Paulo hospital.