Within the glory of the presentation of the Marca America Award bestowed upon Leo Messi as the player with the most titles in the history of football, a detail on stage caught the attention of everyone.

The painting that accompanied the gala on the stage where Messi received the award, captured the eye of all attendees for the moment that it reflected within the history of Messi’s career. In the painting, Messi is donning the trademark white and sky blue, the jersey with which he captured his lifelong dream: the World Cup.

Javier Tortosa is the man behind the painting

Javier Tortosa is the mind behind the painting. It wasn’t an easy task, as it took over three months for it to fully come together. After all, it’s impossible to rush art.

Normally this painting [takes] about two or three months. But in this case, it’s more important for us. We spent time, asked family and friends, soccer best friends, but in three months and a half I did it.

There was a clear focus when it came to what the painting would entail and what the overall theme would be. Messi’s goal celebration with his arms extended is as if he is hugging all of his fans.

Always I think about the reality of Messi in this case. Always thinking about the person, in this case Messi. We asked people, his family, who is Messi? How [does he make you] feel?… In this painting, it’s like every time Messi scores a goal, he hugs the world when he opens his arm like that, and the world hugs him.

Coming off of a hat-trick with Argentina against Bolivia, his fans are hoping to see many more of those celebrations over the next few years.