Days after Argentine footballer Lionel Messi scored his 764th non-penalty goal, surpassing Portuguese player and long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 763 strikes, a digital artwork capturing “the emotional essence” of his “most meaningful goal” garnered $1.87 million through an online auction by Christie’s.Created by Turkish-American artist Refik Anadol, the digital artwork revisits his goal against Manchester United in Rome on May 27, 2009, that won FC Barcelona the UEFA Champions League. “I’ve scored many goals that might have been even more beautiful and valuable — also because of their importance — but the header in the Champions League final against Manchester United has always been my favourite,” said Messi in a statement issued.Rendered in 16K resolution, the eight-minute immersive artwork, according to a release, uses an open-source motion-tracking framework, through which Anadol mapped 17 points of Messi’s body to reconstruct his physical form and kinetic expression. The soundscape, meanwhile, is influenced by biometric voice data, breathing rhythms, heartbeat patterns and emotional nuances derived from Messi’s interviews. Living Memory by Refik Anadol (PR Handout)“For me, this work is about transforming the data from Messi’s favourite goal into living memory – something that we have never done before,” said Anadol, adding, “We’ve taken millions of data points – visuals, sounds, physiological signals – from one of football’s most iconic moments and turned them into a pioneering art experience. This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about reliving the depth of that split second: what Messi felt, what the crowd felt, and what it meant to the world. This AI Data Sculpture work redefines how we experience memory through art.”The work debuted in a 10-day public exhibition at Rockefeller Center in New York earlier this month. The proceeds from the sale will benefit multiple nonprofits, including Inter Miami CF Foundation’s global partnership with UNICEF. “This project means a lot to me, not only because it recalls a special moment in my career, but also because, thanks to such a unique artist like Refik, it can help improve the lives of others who truly need it,” noted Messi.© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd