BUENOS AIRES: An online petition is gaining momentum Friday to change one of Argentina's iconic images of Maria Eva Duarte de Peron, to World Cup winner, Lionel Messi.

The petition wants Messi's image to replace the former first lady's large-scale picture that currently adorns the Ministry of Social Development building in Buenos Aires.

"In one of the most emblematic streets of the country, there should be the image of an Argentine who really represents ALL of us," Anadolu Agency (AA) reported according to the petition that Beni Cocca created.

It describes Messi as a "true reference" for Argentines "due to the values, effort and respect that he has always shown."

The petition underscored Messi's popularity, not just in Argentina but around the world and describes him as "someone who has given us so much joy and has managed to get thousands of people from other countries to support Argentina, due to the love they have for him."

Messi deserves to be "in full view of all Argentines and tourists who come to visit us," it said, adding "he deserves it and we deserve it as well."

The petition has garnered more than 4,500 signatures since it was launched Sunday.

An estimated five million people packed streets in Argentina's capital on Tuesday, dressed in national football jerseys, bearing flags, wearing faceprints and sounding vuvuzelas to welcome the World Cup champions.

The five million broke the previous record for fans greeting world cup champions as highways leading into the capital and the city's center became a sea of blue and white.

The national team was unable to finish their parade by bus due to the crowds but players boarded helicopters and took to the skies to greet fans before meeting their families.

-- BERNAMA