Paraguay Artist Paints Soccer Balls for Miami World Cup Trail

A Paraguayan artist who grew up listening to soccer matches on the radio is now creating hand-painted soccer balls that caught the eye of Lionel Messi himself.

Lili Cantero is bringing her specialty to Miami's Wynwood neighborhood, installing 10 painted soccer balls in local businesses leading up to the June World Cup. Each ball tells the story of a historic championship moment, starting with Spain's 2010 victory.

For Cantero, soccer isn't just a sport. "For me, soccer, futbol, is being with family and being with friends," she said. "The game is not just a game. It's a culture. It's love. It is family. It is friendship."

Her big break came in 2018 when she designed custom cleats for Messi featuring images of his family. When the soccer legend posed with them, the photo went viral and suddenly everyone in the soccer world knew her name.

Diego Maradona and Pelé both admired her work before they died. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Brazilian star Ronaldinho have also followed her journey.

Cantero never played soccer herself, but the game changed her life. She arrived in Miami about two and a half years ago, just as Messi joined Inter Miami and sparked new passion for the sport across the city.

Sunny's Take

What makes Cantero's story so beautiful is how she turned people wrong. Growing up in Paraguay, everyone told her she couldn't make a living through art.

Now she's working thousands of miles from home, representing her roots and proving that creativity knows no borders. Some balls take her days to paint, while others flow from her brush in just hours.

At the first unveiling, she wore a Spain jersey and painted live for the crowd, adding an image of Spanish star David Villa to the ball with quick, confident strokes. She worked so intensely she barely noticed the people gathered to watch.

Wynwood is the perfect home for her project. The neighborhood has transformed warehouses into galleries and turned entire buildings into murals, making it Miami's art heartbeat.

"I think art and soccer has the power to change the world," Cantero said. "It changed my life, so I can tell that that's true."

As the World Cup brings tens of thousands of visitors to South Florida, Wynwood wants them all to feel welcome in its vibrant streets. Cantero's soccer ball trail will remind everyone that beauty and passion speak every language.