The painting on the ceiling was inspired by The Creation of Adam and depicts Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona at the front, with other notable footballers such as Juan Román Riquelme, Gabriel Batistuta, Mario Kempes, Sergio Agüero, Claudio Caniggia, Ricardo Bochini and Ariel Ortega at the background
Lionel Messi This article is part of a series about
Lionel Messi

Argentine professional footballer

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The Sistine Chapel of Football (also known as "The Creation of Football") is an artwork exhibited at the Sportivo Pereyra club from Barracas in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It honors the two greatest Argentine footballers, Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, as well as other notable Argentine players including Juan Román Riquelme, Gabriel Batistuta, Mario Kempes, Sergio Agüero, Claudio Caniggia, Ricardo Bochini and Ariel Ortega.[1][2]

Inspired by Michelangelo's classic fresco, The Creation of Adam found in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, it was created in 2014[3] by the Argentine graphic designer and artist Santiago Barbeito (aka Santuke).[4] The artwork gained popularity in mid 2018, when a video filmed by an amateur went viral on social media.[5][6]

History

In 2014, the club authorities decided to paint the ceiling of the main indoor pitch.[7] Initially, the first idea was to recreate a sky with clouds but then a new proposal would emerge that included Messi, Maradona and other historical representatives of Argentine football.[7][8] "For us this is a sacred temple of football and what better way to express it with a suitable ceiling, one like the Sistine Chapel," Ricardo Elsegood, the club's head coach told local media.[9][10][11]

Characteristics

The Creation of Adam was the inspiration for the painting

In this recreation of the fresco by Michelangelo, Lionel Messi represents Adam and Diego Maradona acts as God,[12] while the cherubs who complete the scene are Juan Román Riquelme, Gabriel Batistuta, Mario Kempes, Sergio Agüero, Claudio Caniggia, Ricardo Bochini and Ariel Ortega.[5] “It is like Maradona grants Messi the legacy of good football,” explained Santiago Barbeito, author of the artwork.[9][13][14]

The artwork is a digital photomontage printed on eight stretched canvases that reach approximately 500 m².[5][15]

Produced through donations, its cost is valued at around $20,000 USD.[16][17][18]

The club

Sportivo Pereyra club is located on 2785 Alvarado Street in Barracas, a neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, a few blocks away from La Bombonera, the stadium owned by Boca Juniors, one of Argentina's top football clubs.[10][19]

Renowned players like Mauro Boselli and Juan Manuel Iturbe have emerged from this club.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Messi is 'Adam', Maradona 'God' at this Argentina football club". The Week (Indian magazine). 26 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Argentina, Messi e Maradona nella Cappella Sistina". Sky Sport (Italy) (in Italian). 30 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Argentina tiene una réplica futbolera de la Capilla Sixtina". Voy de Viaje. Córdoba, Argentina. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  4. ^ "At Argentina football club, Maradona is God, Messi is Adam" (PDF). Eastern Mirror. Dimapur, Nagaland, India. 26 April 2018. p. 12. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d Cavallero, Pablo Antonio (18 April 2018). "De Barracas al mundo, cómo se creó la "Capilla Sixtina" del fútbol". Infobae. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  6. ^ "En Argentina hacen una versión futbolera de la 'Capilla Sixtina'". Mundo Deportivo. Barcelona, Spain. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Where Maradona is God and Lionel Messi is Adam". The Hindu. 26 April 2018. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  8. ^ 董志成 (27 April 2018). "Heavenly Treatment for Messi, Maradona". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Capilla Sixtina versión argentina: Maradona es Dios y Messi Adán". El País. Madrid, Spain. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  10. ^ a b "At Argentina football club, Maradona is God, Messi is Adam". Business Standard India. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  11. ^ "At Argentina football club, Maradona is God, Messi is Adam". sports.yahoo.com. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  12. ^ Wright, Chris (30 April 2018). "Messi, Maradona in Sistine Chapel-style tribute". ESPN. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  13. ^ Bourgeois, Blaise (27 April 2018). "Argentine club unveils 'Creation of Adam' fresco featuring Leo Messi". OneFootball. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  14. ^ "At Argentina football club, Maradona is God, Messi is Adam". France 24. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  15. ^ Calvo, Pablo (10 June 2018). "La creación de la alegría". Revista VIVA. No. 2197. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  16. ^ Bustamante, Juan (27 April 2018). "Messi y Maradona, divinidades en la "Capilla Sixtina" del fútbol argentino". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  17. ^ Wright, Chris (30 April 2018). "Football Art: Argentinian Youth Team Unveil Spectacular 'Sistine Chapel' Ceiling Mural Featuring Maradona As God And Messi As Adam (Photo & Video)". Who Ate All The Pies. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  18. ^ Neville, Steve (9 May 2018). "Hand of God: Argentine club recreate Sistine Chapel portrait with Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  19. ^ Galligani, Federico (14 July 2020). "El club de Barracas que lucha por sobrevivir: sufrió 5 robos durante cuarentena y se llevaron hasta los cables de luz". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 31 May 2021.

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