LONDON: Barcelona wizard Lionel Messi has been immortalized in the form of a wax statue unveiled at London's Wembley Stadium.

The Argentina international was outstanding in the 2011 Champions League final, as the Spanish giants triumphed 3-1 over Manchester United with the 25-year-old being the goalscoring star of the show.

The Champions League final will once again be played at Wembley this season due to it being the 150th anniversary of the Football Association.

The life-size figure of Messi took four months to craft and cost a little less than £150,000 to create. Primera Liga, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercopa, European Super Cup and Club World Cup-winning attackerl - should he wish - be able to visit his commemorative statue at the Madame Tussauds museum in London starting Sept. 23. 

Barca are the odds-on favorites to win the trophy, which currently resides at Chelsea, while Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City and Bayern Munich are also among the favorites expected to vie for the title of European club champion in May.

- mD

Pointy: Lionel Messi's waxwork