Lionel Messi’s legacy cemented — literally: Which other legends have stadiums or stands named after them?

This week, Lionel Messi entered a new realm of sporting immortality, joining an exclusive group of icons in a way that few ever do.

For decades, Lionel Messi has been a symbol of excellence, loyalty, and unforgettable soccer brilliance. From Rosario to Barcelona, Paris, and now Miami, his influence spans continents. But this week, he entered a new realm of sporting immortality, joining an exclusive group of icons in a way that few ever do. On June 24th, his 38th birthday, Messi was honored by his boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, in a fashion that no accolade or award can match. 

With an emotional tribute that tugged at the hearts of fans across Argentina, Newell’s Old Boys unveiled the “Lionel Andres Messi Stand” at their beloved Estadio Marcelo Bielsa. The announcement came with a powerful message from the club: “Today, the Coloso writes a new page. For the first time, the two most powerful names in soccer history live under the same roof: OURS.” 

The stand is more than concrete and steel. It’s a love letter to the boy who once danced through defenders in canvas sneakers, and who went on to lift the 2022 World Cup, eight Ballon d’Ors, and countless hearts around the world. 

In a poetic twist, the Messi Stand will directly face the Diego Armando Maradona Stand, symbolizing the eternal connection between Argentina’s two greatest legends—men who defined generations and stirred entire nations into belief. “The bond between Messi and Newell’s is eternal,” the club wrote in an official post. “He left as a boy, but he remains our son.” 

The tribute comes at a time when Newell’s is renovating their stadium, with the Messi Stand set to be unveiled in mid-July, just in time for the Clausura Tournament. But for fans, the dream remains the same: to see Messi return and play once more in the red-and-black shirt of his youth. 

Messi joins a legendary list 

While this tribute is a first for Messi, he now joins a select pantheon of soccer legends who have had stadiums or stands named after them—rare honors that signify not only greatness on the pitch, but an unbreakable legacy off it. Among them: 

Johan Cruyff

His name graces Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena, honoring his revolutionary influence on the game. 

Diego Maradona

Remembered in Naples with the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, once San Paolo, where he led Napoli to glory. 

Sir Alex Ferguson

The managerial titan, who saw Old Trafford’s North Stand renamed in his honor after reshaping Manchester United’s destiny. 

Pele

His name adorns Estadio Rei Pele in Brazil and continues to echo in the stadiums of Santos. 

Sir Bobby Charlton

The gentleman of English soccer, immortalized with the South Stand at Old Trafford. 

Franz Beckenbauer

He is honored with the Franz Beckenbauer Kurve in Munich. 

Other soccer greats like Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba, Dwight Yorke, and Arsene Wenger have similarly been etched into stadium history in their hometowns or formative clubs.