There is no question that football is a sort of religion in Argentina.
Now, on the ceiling of the Sportivo Pereyra de Barracas football club in Buenos Aires, in a painting modelled after Michelangelo’s work in the Sistine Chapel, Diego Maradona is God, extending his hand to Adam — Lionel Messi.
Argentina-born Pope Francis, an avowed football fan, would certainly smile at the grand gesture made by the club where football and other team sports are played. “It’s as if Maradona had bestowed upon Messi the gift of continued good football,” explained Santiago Barbeito, the artist who painted the work.
In this version of Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam,” instead of the angels surrounding God, football stars Juan Riquelme, Gabriel Batistuta, Mario Kempes, Sergio Aguero, Claudio Caniggia, Ricardo Bochini and Ariel Ortega are featured. The players are clad in the classic blue and white striped jersey of Argentina’s national team.
“For us, this pitch is our temple — a sacred temple of football, and what better than to have a fresco on the ceiling that is worthy of a temple,” said coach Ricardo Elsegood.
The club, where many children play, is located in the southern part of Buenos Aires, not far from the stadium of the Boca Juniors, Argentina’s most successful club. “We realised the ceiling was rather dark. We thought at first of painting it blue with white clouds. But one day, the artist came and said it would be better to do it with Messi and Maradona,” said Mr. Elsegood.
