The excitement over Argentina's performance in the 2026 World Cup motivated Cuban visual artist and tattooist Pedro Roche to create a piece of art that he hopes to deliver to Lionel Messi and the rest of the national team. The painting, created entirely during the final against Spain, was conceived as a tribute to the team and as a gesture of gratitude toward the country that welcomed him over a decade ago.
Roche, a resident of Pilar in the Greater Buenos Aires area for 11 years, began the painting with the kickoff of the match and finished it exactly when the final whistle blew, adding not a single stroke afterward.
However, the work, titled "The Fan and His Star," was inspired by the Argentinian comeback on July 15 against England, a victory by 2-1 sealed with goals from Enzo Fernández in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez in the 92nd, which secured the Albiceleste's place in the final.
"I wanted to dedicate this painting to our team, created from start to finish during the match, with not a single additional brushstroke, capturing Messi's last World Cup and the heart and spirit of the Argentine Selection, which always makes us carry a star within," the artist explained to El Diario.
Roche shared the artwork on his Instagram account, @roche_tattoo, along with a message that summarizes the connection he has built with the southern country: "We may not wear it on our shirt (for now), but it’s always in our hearts. Thank you, Argentina, for making me part of this madness. This Cuban loves you."
For Roche, painting transcends the sporting outcome.
"I understood that I needed to create a piece that expressed something deeper than just a result. If Argentina were to win the World Cup, a new star would forever be added to the jersey; but the grit, heart, and passion of this team were already burning and will continue to burn eternally in the hearts of those who feel these colors," he stated.
The painting also holds a deeply personal meaning. "Argentina opened its doors to me, and this painting is my way of expressing gratitude and paying tribute to the country that I now feel is my home," she stated.
As he explained, his intention was never just to celebrate a victory, but to pay tribute "to the heart, the identity, and the commitment of a group that brought a whole country together again."
Although Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final, held on July 19 and decided in extra time with a goal from Ferran Torres, the artist asserts that this outcome does not alter the meaning of his work.
His biggest wish remains the same: for El hincha and its star to reach Messi and the Scaloneta as a gesture of gratitude for the emotions they provided during the tournament.
The passion awakened by the Argentine national team was also felt among many Cubans. During the World Cup, dozens of fans gathered at the entrance of the Yara cinema in Havana to follow the matches of the Albiceleste, defying the power outages that made it difficult to watch the games from their homes.
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