BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi on Friday was named "Rosario's ambassador in the world" during a ceremony in his native town, about 300 kilometer from Buenos Aires.

"It's very nice that tourists come to visit the place where I was born," said Messi, 24, who currently visits Argentina for Christmas holidays. Messi said "it's a great pride" to receive this distinction.

"I want to thank for this acknowledgement in Rosario, my home, the place where I was born, where my people lives, my family and which certainly will be my place of residence when I retire from soccer," he said.

Rosario is currently fighting to host 2019 Pan-American Games.