The 2026 FIFA World Cup should be an exciting time here in the United States as North America will be hosting the event. LEGO will be releasing quite a few sets for the spectacle and the first one we’ll be checking out is the Lionel Messi – Soccer Highlights (43011). It has 500 pieces and will retail for $29.99 which is surprising considering the piece count and the licensing fees.
Minifigure
The set does include a minifigure of the Argentinean icon, Lionel Messi. The torso has printing of Messi’s jersey from his home country with details of the 10 jersey number and his name on the back. I do like that LEGO included his tattoos on his right arm. It’s not 100% accurate but it’s somewhat close. The legs are dual molded showing his shorts also having the number and his shoes.
Build
Considering the piece count is at 500, the build does seem a bit small but it’s not that bad. Like with the other Soccer Highlights sets in this wave, the layout is a soccer field with some details of the player’s life in the background.
For Messi, the field is mostly based on the Argentina team colors of sky blue and white. The front has his name built with various tile pieces. To the right of it, there’s a printed tile with his fantasy stats.
In the middle of the field, we have some colors of his Inter Miami team that also has a spot to attach the minifigure. Here he can have an action pose of him kicking the ball at the goal using the translucent blue cloud piece.
Finally at the back, there are little houses but if you know Messi’s career, you would know that the color schemes of the houses are based on the team colors that he has played for. These teams include Abanderado Grandoli FC, Newell’s Old Boys, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami. Behind the houses, there’s a brick-built 10 for his jersey number.
Results
Overall, the LEGO Editions Lionel Messi – Soccer Highlights (43011) gives a good representation of Messi’s career at a rather decent price. The Messi minifigure is also well done although it doesn’t really show all his tattoos. The only downside I have with the set is that LEGO couldn’t get the full licensing for his autograph because the printed one isn’t the real one. He is also the only set that doesn’t have his real auto while the other sets have it.
Thank you to LEGO for sending in this set for me to review. The content above represents my own opinion and not the company. Review sets sent in does not guarantee a positive review.
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