An artist in Argentina has paid homage to his country's two most famous footballing icons by painting them into a reworked version of Michelangelo's 'Creation of Adam'.

Diego Maradona replaces God, while Lionel Messi fills in for Adam in the mural which Santiago Barbeito painted onto the ceiling of an indoor Buenos Aires football court.

Michelangelo's original, painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the early 1500s, tells the story of the Book of Genesis in which God gives life to the first man.

Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi (left) feature in a remarkable ceiling mural in Buenos Aires

The cool painting is based above an indoor pitch at Sportivo Pereyra de Barracas football club

It was inspired by Michelangelo's 'Creation of Adam' from the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City

Here, 1986 World Cup winner Maradona appears to be shown giving life to Messi, who is 27 years his junior.

The apostles are depicted by Sergio Aguero, Mario Kempes, Ricardo Bochini, Gabriel Batistuta, Claudio Caniggia, Juan Roman Riquelme and Ariel Ortega.

Maradona has, of course, been referred to as God before. He famously punched the ball into Peter Shilton's net during Argentina's 2-1 win over England in the quarter-finals at Mexico 86, before saying the goal had been scored 'a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God'.

Messi has already achieved much more than Maradona did at club level — winning eight (soon to be nine) La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with Barcelona — but he has yet to replicate his predecessor's international success.

The 30-year-old will compete at his fourth World Cup this summer when he will lead Argentina's bid to end their 32-year wait for global glory.

Maradona also played for Barcelona during his club career, but is best remembered for his time at Napoli, with whom he won two Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia and a UEFA Cup.

Santiago Barbeito's version depicts Maradona as God and Barcelona legend Messi as Adam

A boy looks up in awe at the stunning artwork of Argentina's two most iconic footballing sons