Nirmala College in Muvattupuzha, located in Ernakulam district, has unveiled a giant portrait featuring Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. The artwork, spread across nearly 1,000 square feet on the institution’s basketball court, has been created almost entirely from discarded materials, turning waste into an eye-catching tribute to football’s global icons.
The installation was unveiled on the day the World Cup kicked off, drawing attention not only for its scale but also for the message behind it.
A tribute to football’s modern legends
The giant artwork honours three players who have defined an era of football and are widely believed to be appearing in their final FIFA World Cup.
Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar have collectively inspired millions of fans across the globe over the past two decades. By placing the trio together in a single large portrait, the creators sought to celebrate their contributions to the sport at a moment that could mark the end of an extraordinary chapter in football history.
The artwork displays each player in their national team’s colours, creating a vibrant visual spectacle visible from a considerable distance.
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More than one lakh bottle caps used
The Hindu noted that the portrait was assembled using approximately 1.06 lakh discarded soft drink metal caps along with other recycled items, such as plasterboards recovered from construction sites.
According to those involved in the initiative, collecting the required materials proved to be one of the biggest challenges. Volunteers gathered bottle caps from shops, beverage manufacturers, scrap dealers and even hospitality establishments over several months.
Once the materials were sourced, students painstakingly painted and arranged them according to a pre-designed digital blueprint, transforming waste into a detailed work of art.
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Students lead a sustainability message
The project was driven by members of the college’s arts club, Varnasala, with guidance from faculty and alumni.
The concept was proposed by alumnus Ajay V. John, who spent months planning the artwork before bringing the idea to the college. Students then took charge of painting and assembling the thousands of individual pieces required to complete the portrait.
Beyond celebrating football, the initiative aims to highlight the possibilities of recycling and creative reuse. The finished artwork demonstrates how materials often discarded as waste can be transformed into something meaningful and visually striking.
