As he and his teammates from Inter Miami unveiled the team’s new away uniform sponsor, Lionel Messi gave the largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, an odd moniker.
Lionel Messi, alongside friends and representatives from the world’s second-largest cruise line operator, participated in a ceremony at the Port of Miami on Tuesday to name a new ship set to embark on its maiden voyage this weekend.
Measuring 1,198 feet, the vessel holds the title of the longest ship in the world. Constructed at a cost of $2 billion, it features 20 floors capable of accommodating up to 7,600 passengers, with a total weight of 250,800 gross tons.
As the main attraction of the event, Messi added a special touch by placing a soccer ball on a stand to mark the traditional moment of breaking a champagne bottle against the ship’s bow, a gesture intended to bring good luck to the vessel and its future travelers.
Later, the 36-year-old Argentine referred to it as a “privilege.”
“It’s an honor for me and I know what it means for the city of Miami and the whole world,” he stated in Spanish. “Icon of the Seas will be the name of this ship.” May God bless you and all others who will be sailing with her.
“We built the biggest and baddest ship in the world,” stated Michael Bayley, the CEO and President of Royal Caribbean International. Adding a new kind of ship is thrilling, but it’s much more gratifying when it appears to have been expertly constructed.
With seven swimming pools, six water slides, the highest water slide in the world, the largest waterpark at sea, and more, the firm claims that there are plenty of ways to have fun on board.
Additionally, there are fresh concepts for the liner registered in the Bahamas. “The Pearl,” a building fashioned as a moving piece of art on a thoroughfare; “Absolute Zero,” an ice rink; “Surfside,” a family neighborhood; “The Hideaway,” a beach club featuring the first suspended infinity pool on any ship; “Thrill Island,” the largest waterpark at sea with six distinct water slides; “Swim & Tonic,” the largest swim-up bar at sea; and “Aquadome,” a diving and performance area located atop the ship under a glass dome.
Earlier, during a function held in a theater on the ship, the team unveiled their new black uniform for the 2024 season. Messi and his pals displayed their black jerseys by removing their pink sweaters with zippers. The team’s signature pink was used to stitch the Royal Caribbean emblem across the chest.
Messi and Inter Miami’s international preseason vacation will take them to Saudi Arabia in the middle of this week, where they will play two games the following week. First, they perform Al-Hilal on January 29. They play Al Nassr the following day, on February 1, whose main player is Cristiano Ronaldo, who has long been Messi’s rival.
However, there are serious concerns about Ronaldo’s health. Ronaldo’s “physical issues” forced the cancellation of two Al Nassr games that were scheduled to take place in China this week. He reportedly suffered a calf injury that might take two weeks to recover from.
That might mean there is no Ronaldo versus. Messi match. Ronaldo apologized to supporters for their injuries, saying they were beyond his control, during a press conference in China.
