Lionel Messi gets special birthday gift from Moscow confectionery

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Bakers of Altufyevo Confectionery prepare a life-size chocolate sculpture of Lionel Messi (Reuters Photo)

Happy birthday, Lionel Messi!

Born on June 24 in 1987 in Rosario, the Argentina captain is celebrating his 31st birthday on Sunday.

Messi, who is yet to score at this year's FIFA World Cup in Russia, will look turnaround his and Argentina's fortunes when they face Nigeria next in the World Cup. Argentina must win that game to keep their hopes alive for qualifying to the last 16 of the tournament.

Messi-led Argentina, who ended as runners-up four years ago in Brazil, have endured a torrid time in Russia drawing 1-1 against debutants Iceland before being crushed 3-0 by Croatia.

When Moscow confectioners found out Messi would be celebrating his birthday during the World Cup, they decided he needed a gift that measured up - a life-size chocolate sculpture in his likeness.

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A team of five workers at Moscow's Altufyevo Confectionery worked for nearly a week to carve the sculpture in 60 kg (132 lbs) of chocolate to mark the Argentina forward's 31st birthday on Sunday.