ON THIS DAY: Messi and Maradona statues are unveiled in Buenos Aires

On this day (5th May) in 2014, a local Argentine media channel and the Government of Buenos Aires unveiled statues of three of Argentina's most iconic football superstars - Lionel Messi, Gabriel Batistuta and Diego Armando Maradona.

They are the creation of sculptor Fernando Pugliese, who caused controversy the year before with his depiction of Pope Francis outside a cathedral in the Argentine capital - that prompted the pontiff himself to call for its removal.

But there was no mistaking the joy these statues generated among the crowds that turned up for the unveiling ceremony - among them Gabriela and Alejandra Batistuta, Gabriel Batistuta's sisters.

The trio have 306 international caps between them - 138 and counting, in Messi's case - and 158 goals, but only Maradon can boast of winning the World Cup.

That came in Mexico in 1986, the tournament that also saw Maradona's controversial 'Hand of God' goal against England.