Barcelona fans will agree Lionel Messi is worth his weight in gold, and a Japanese jeweller has unveiled a solid golden replica of the Argentine's foot in tribute to the Ballon d'Or winner.
The golden foot, unveiled in Tokyo today and designed by the Tanaka Kikinzoku firm, is valued at around £3.5m.
The golden touch
Messi trotted out one of football's oldest clichés with the statement: "I'm honoured to have my foot recreated in pure gold."
Messi has his foot cast
Lionel Messi's golden foot
500-Million-Yen Golden Statue Of Leo Messi Left Foot Go On Sale(01 of16)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: President and representative director of Ginza Tanaka Kikinzoku Jewelry KK, Masakazu Tanaka and Rodrigo Messi (R) pose with golden statue of the left foot of Lionel Messi at the launching at Harajuku Quest Hall on March 6, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. The 25-kilogram golden replica of the four-time Ballon d'Or winner's foot will be on sale from March 7, at the price of 498.7 million Japanese yen. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
500-Million-Yen Golden Statue Of Leo Messi Left Foot Go On Sale(02 of16)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: Golden statue of the left foot of Lionel Messi is displayed at the launching at Harajuku Quest Hall on March 6, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. The 25-kilogram golden replica of the four-time Ballon d'Or winner will be on sale from March 7, at the price of 498.7 million Japanese yen. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
500-Million-Yen Golden Statue Of Leo Messi Left Foot Go On Sale(03 of16)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: Golden statue of the left foot of Lionel Messi is displayed at the launching at Harajuku Quest Hall on March 6, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. The 25-kilogram golden replica of the four-time Ballon d'Or winner will be on sale from March 7, at the price of 498.7 million Japanese yen. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
500-Million-Yen Golden Statue Of Leo Messi Left Foot Go On Sale(04 of16)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: Golden statue of the left foot of Lionel Messi is displayed at the launching at Harajuku Quest Hall on March 6, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. The 25-kilogram golden replica of the four-time Ballon d'Or winner will be on sale from March 7, at the price of 498.7 million Japanese yen. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
500-Million-Yen Golden Statue Of Leo Messi Left Foot Go On Sale(05 of16)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: Golden statue of the left foot of Lionel Messi is displayed at the launching at Harajuku Quest Hall on March 6, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. The 25-kilogram golden replica of the four-time Ballon d'Or winner will be on sale from March 7, at the price of 498.7 million Japanese yen. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
500-Million-Yen Golden Statue Of Leo Messi Left Foot Go On Sale(06 of16)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: A golden statue of the left foot of Lionel Messi is displayed at Harajuku Quest Hall on March 6, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. The 25-kilogram golden replica of the four-time Ballon d'Or winner's foot will be on sale from March 7, at the price of 498.7 million Japanese yen. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
500-Million-Yen Golden Statue Of Leo Messi Left Foot Go On Sale(07 of16)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: A plaster mold of the left foot of Lionel Messi is displayed at the launch of the golden statue of his foot at Harajuku Quest Hall on March 6, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. The 25-kilogram golden replica of the four-time Ballon d'Or winner will be on sale from March 7, at the price of 498.7 million Japanese yen. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-JPN-GOLD-MESSI(08 of16)
The plaster-made replica of football star Lionel Messi of Argentine's left foot is on display during its press preview in Tokyo on March 6, 2013. Priced at about 5.25 million USD, the 25-kilogram golden foot was created by Tokyo-based jewelry retailer, Ginza Tanaka, to commemorate Messi's record-breaking Ballon d'Or for four consecutive years and the world-record 91 goals he scored a calender year. AFP PHOTO/TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-JPN-GOLD-MESSI(09 of16)
The plaster-made replica of football star Lionel Messi of Argentine's left foot is on display during its press preview in Tokyo on March 6, 2013. Priced at about 5.25 million USD, the 25-kilogram golden foot was created by Tokyo-based jewelry retailer, Ginza Tanaka, to commemorate Messi's record-breaking Ballon d'Or for four consecutive years and the world-record 91 goals he scored a calender year. AFP PHOTO/TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
500-Million-Yen Golden Statue Of Leo Messi Left Foot Go On Sale(10 of16)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: Rodrigo Messi poses with the imprint of the left foot of Lionel Messi at the launching at Harajuku Quest Hall on March 6, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. The 25-kilogram golden replica of the four-time Ballon d'Or winner will be on sale from March 7, at the price of 498.7 million Japanese yen. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-JPN-GOLD-MESSI(11 of16)
The plaster-made replica of football star Lionel Messi of Argentine's left foot is on display during its press preview in Tokyo on March 6, 2013. Priced at about 5.25 million USD, the 25-kilogram golden foot was created by Tokyo-based jewelry retailer, Ginza Tanaka, to commemorate Messi's record-breaking Ballon d'Or for four consecutive years and the world-record 91 goals he scored a calender year. AFP PHOTO/TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
500-Million-Yen Golden Statue Of Leo Messi Left Foot Go On Sale(12 of16)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: A golden statue of the left foot of Lionel Messi is unveiled at Harajuku Quest Hall on March 6, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. The 25-kilogram golden replica of the four-time Ballon d'Or winner's foot will be on sale from March 7, at the price of 498.7 million Japanese yen. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-JPN-GOLD-MESSI(13 of16)
Rodrigo Messi, brother of football star Lionel Messi of Argentina, smiles from behind the golden replica of Lionel Messi's left foot during its press preview in Tokyo on March 6, 2013. Priced at about 5.25 million USD, the 25-kilogram golden foot was created by Tokyo-based jewelry retailer, Ginza Tanaka, to commemorate Messi's record-breaking Ballon d'Or for four consecutive years and the world-record 91 goals he scored a calender year. AFP PHOTO/TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-JPN-GOLD-MESSI(14 of16)
Rodrigo Messi, brother of football star Lionel Messi of Argentine (R) and Ginza Tanaka President Masakazu Tanaka (L) unveil the golden replica of Lionel Messi's left foot during its press preview in Tokyo on March 6, 2013. Priced at about 5.25 million USD, the 25-kilogram golden foot was created by Tokyo-based jewelry retailer, Ginza Tanaka, to commemorate Messi's record-breaking Ballon d'Or for four consecutive years and the world-record 91 goals he scored a calender year. AFP PHOTO/TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
500-Million-Yen Golden Statue Of Leo Messi Left Foot Go On Sale(15 of16)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 06: Rodrigo Messi poses with Golden statue of the left foot of Lionel Messi at the launching at Harajuku Quest Hall on March 6, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. The 25-kilogram golden replica of the four-time Ballon d'Or winner will be on sale from March 7, at the price of 498.7 million Japanese yen. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-JPN-GOLD-MESSI(16 of16)
Rodrigo Messi, brother of football star Lionel Messi of Argentina, holds the 300-gram pure gold plate of the left footprint of Lionel Messi while standing behind the golden replica of the left foot during its press preview in Tokyo on March 6, 2013. Priced at about 5.25 million USD, the 25-kilogram golden foot was created by Tokyo-based jewelry retailer, Ginza Tanaka, to commemorate Messi's record-breaking Ballon d'Or for four consecutive years and the world-record 91 goals he scored a calender year. AFP PHOTO/TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)