"Leo Messi Way": Street Named After the Number 10 in USA

Carolina Zokalski arrived in the United States in 1995 as part of Forever Tango. The show took her to Broadway, Carnegie Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl. Three decades later, her name became linked to an unexpected tribute: a street named after Lionel Messi.

The intersection is in Berkeley Heights, a municipality in New Jersey located less than 1 hour from Manhattan. Her Argentine café, Patria Station Café, operates there. About 40 kilometers from the MetLife Stadium, the site was temporarily named Leo Messi Way.

“It was almost a miracle,” Zokalski recalls with a laugh. The idea was born among friends and later reached the municipality. Months later, the proposal was approved with local support.

How Did the Idea Come About?

The initiative emerged from an informal conversation but ended up becoming a public symbol. Zokalski brought the idea to municipal authorities. According to her account, she spoke with various people until she secured institutional support. Berkeley Heights Mayor Angie Devanney backed the proposal. She defined it as a way to celebrate Messi’s global impact. She also saw it as a welcome for visitors arriving for the 2026 World Cup.