When chocolatiers in Moscow found out Lionel Messi would be celebrating his birthday during the World Cup - they decided¹ he need a present that measured up.

当莫斯科的巧克力生产商发现莱昂内尔·梅西将在世界杯期间过生日时，他们决定送他一份可测量有价值的礼物。

So a team of five workers from the Russian capital's Altufyevo Confectionary Shop spent nearly a week making a life-size chocolate sculpture of the striker.

所以，俄罗斯首都的Altufyevo糖果店五人工作小组花了近一周的时间，制作了一个真人大小的巧克力雕塑。

Mounted² on a green pitch birthday cake the Messi masterpiece weighs 132lb (60kg) and marked his 31st birthday yesterday.

重达132磅（60公斤）“梅西”站在绿茵场生日蛋糕上，昨天就是他31岁生日。

'We found out by chance that it was Messi's birthday on June 24,' said chief confectioner Daria Malkina. 'And we thought, 'why not make Leo a gift, a chocolate sculpture of himself'?'

“我们偶然发现6月24日是梅西的生日，”首席甜品师达莉亚·马尔金说，“我们就想，为什么不送给他一个生日礼物呢，一个梅西造型的巧克力雕塑？”

Malkina said she had been in touch with Messi's representatives about handing him the sculpture.

马尔金说，她已经和梅西的代理人取得联系，准备把这个雕塑交给他。

'We will give Lionel Messi to Lionel Messi,' Malkina said, laughing.

“我们将把莱昂内尔·梅西送给莱昂内尔·梅西，”马尔基纳笑着说。

In the meantime it will be put on display in Bronnitsy, a town 30 miles from Moscow where Argentina are based for the month-long tournament.

与此同时，它将在距离莫斯科30英里的布龙尼齐小镇展出，阿根廷驻扎在那里备战为期一个月的世界杯。

Messi might need cheering up, having been criticised for his tepid³ performances during the World Cup with Argentina facing the prospect⁴ of exiting the tournament early unless remaining Group D results go their way.

梅西可能需要振作起来，他因为自己世界杯期间不温不火的表现而受到了批评，除非剩余的D组保持现状，不然阿根廷队面临着提前打道回府的危险。