Lionel Messi Spurs Sweet Statue and Golden Boot Chase Ahead of World Cup Final

In Barakpur, India, a confectionery shop has created a 21‑kilogram kheer statue of football star Lionel Messi, accompanied by blue‑white "Argentina Rasgulla" sweets, to attract fans before the World Cup final. The shop previously fulfilled a 27‑kilogram kheer Messi statue order for a customer in Jharkhand, and the new display is drawing considerable attention from football enthusiasts.

As the final pits Argentina against Spain, Messi has a chance to win the tournament’s Golden Boot. He trails France’s Kylian Mbappé by two goals and would need either two goals and an assist, or three goals, to overtake him. Both players currently have four assists; if tied, the award would go to the player with the fewest minutes played, favoring Messi, who has logged 712 minutes compared with Mbappé’s 769.