A solid gold replica of Lionel Messi's left foot was unveiled by a Japanese jeweller in Tokyo on 6 March. The golden foot, complete with blood vessels and the swirls of skin on the bottom of the toes, made by the Tanaka Kikinzoku firm, is valued at around £3.5m.

Barcelona and Argentina star Messi, who has won FIFA's Ballon d'Or award for the last three years , said: "I'm honoured to have my foot recreated in pure gold." The replica celebrates Messi’s record-breaking fourth consecutive Ballon d’Or award.

The golden foot is due to go on sale on Thursday, along with a number of miniature versions and a solid gold plate of the Barcelona FC frontman’s footprint.

Part of the profits from the sale will go to help people affected by the quake and tsunami that hit Japan two years ago next Monday, through the Leo Messi Foundation, a charity run by the Messi family.