A Pagani Zonda constructed entirely from 100,000 gold coins has been unveiled as a tribute to soccer legend Lionel Messi at Art Week Cars & Coffee in Miami. The striking masterpiece, commissioned by car collector Jorge Gomez and crafted by Uruguayan artist Joaquin Arbiza, transforms automotive engineering into an exquisite work of art.
The Pagani Zonda is already one of the world’s most exclusive supercars, with only 140 examples ever produced by the Italian marque. However, Gomez—a former Zonda owner—decided to immortalize his passion for the car by commissioning this one-of-a-kind sculpture, replacing high-performance carbon fiber with shimmering Uruguayan $2 coins.
This life-size Zonda replica is an engineering marvel, meticulously assembled with 500,000 soldering points to hold the thousands of coins together. The fine details are astonishing—from the flawless curvature of the wheel arches to the intricacy of the wing mirrors and spoilers, every aspect of the car has been painstakingly recreated. Even the brake discs and aerodynamic elements are crafted with precision, ensuring a visually seamless homage to the original design.
While the coin-clad Zonda lacks the over-200-mph performance of its real counterpart, it can technically reach 1 mph—when pushed manually, as there is no powertrain beneath its shimmering gold hood.
Gomez, a devoted soccer fan, chose Lionel Messi as the inspiration for this automotive artwork. Messi’s face is prominently displayed on the car’s bonnet, further cementing the tribute. The soccer icon, now playing for Inter Miami, has a well-documented love for the Pagani Zonda—owning an ultra-rare Zonda Tricolore, one of the most coveted supercars in existence.
Following its unveiling in Miami, the coin-laden Zonda is expected to take residence in Gomez’s personal collection, ensuring it remains a conversation piece for years to come.
Elizabeth Puckett