Lionel Messi has now bizarrely christened the largest cruise ship in the world – Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas – as he and his Inter Miami teammates showed off the team’s new away kit sponsor.
On Tuesday, Messi and his teammates attended a ceremony held by the world’s second-largest cruise line operator at the Port of Miami, where they took part in the naming of the new ship, which will formally set sail for the first time this weekend.
It is the world’s longest liner at 1,198 feet. But, it didn’t come without a $2billion cost, funding the construction of 20 decks for a maximum capacity of 7,600 people and a weight of 250,800 gross tons.
Messi – a World Cup and eight time Ballon d’Or winner – was the headliner at the event, placing a soccer ball atop a stand to ‘start’ the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle against the bow of the ship – something that is supposed to bring good luck to the vessel and its passengers.
The 36-year-old, Argentine later called it a ‘privilege.’
Lionel Messi participates in the naming ceremony of the ‘Icon of the Seas’ in Miami on Tuesday
Messi show off Miami’s new away kit sponsor – Royal Caribbean – with Luis Suarez & Jordi Alba
The Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship at 1,198 feet, costs an estimated $2billion
‘It’s a great honor for me and I know what it means for the city of Miami and the entire world,’ Messi said in Spanish. ‘So, I name this ship Icon of the Seas. God bless you and all of the people who will sail with her.’
Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley added: ‘We built the biggest, baddest ship on the planet. It’s really exciting when you introduce a new class of ship, but it’s even most excited when it seems to be really spot on.’
An array of entertainment options are on board, including seven swimming pools, six water slides, the world’s largest waterfall, tallest water slide, and largest waterpark at sea, according to the company.
New concepts have been introduced on the Bahamas-registered liner, too, including an ‘Aquadome’ – a diving and performance venue under a glass dome on top of the ship; a structural feature designed as a dynamic art installation on a thoroughfare, called ‘The Pearl’; an ice skating rink, called ‘Absolute Zero’; a family neighborhood called ‘Surfside’; a beach club featuring a first suspended infinity pool of any ship, called ‘The Hideaway’; the largest waterpark at sea, featuring six different water slides, called ‘Thrill Island; and the largest swim up bar at sea, called ‘Swim & Tonic.’
Royal Caribbean’s ‘Icon of the Seas’ also contains 20 decks and a maximum capacity of 7,600
The cruise liner has seven swimming pools and six water slides among other features on board
The ship also has a structural feature designed as a dynamic art installation on its main access route, called ‘The Pearl’
Passengers lounge in the Aquadome area of Icon of the Seas, a diving and performance venue under a glass dome on the top of the ship
An employee walks through the Central Park area of the ship, as it also contains its own ‘family neighborhood,’ called ‘Surfside’
Royal Caribbean claims the ship has the tallest waterfall, the tallest water slide, and the largest waterpark at sea
Icon of the Seas sitting at dock as it prepares for its inaugural public voyage on January 27
At an earlier event inside a theater aboard the ship, Inter Miami showed off its new black kit for the 2024 season. Messi and his teammates removed pink zippered sweatshirts to reveal the black jersey, trimmed in the team’s traditional pink with a Royal Caribbean logo across the chest.
Messi and Inter Miami leave later this week for Saudi Arabia and a pair of matches next week as part of its international preseason tour. First up is a match against Al-Hilal on January 29, and then on February 1 it’s a match against Al Nassr – which features Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s longtime rival.
But Ronaldo’s health is in serious question. Al Nassr had a pair of matches that were scheduled to be held in China starting this week called off because of what organizers called ‘physical issues’ for Ronaldo – reportedly a calf injury that could take two weeks to heal.
And that might mean Ronaldo vs. Messi won’t happen. At a news conference in China, Ronaldo apologized to fans and said injuries are something he couldn’t control.
Messi, formerly of PSG and Barcelona, will be hoping to face Cristiano Ronaldo next month but the Portuguese is a doubt for the friendly contest, with concerns raised over the fixture
Messi and Ronaldo have faced off 35 previous times between matches for club and country, with Messi’s teams winning 16, Ronaldo’s teams winning 10 and the sides settling for a draw on the other nine occasions.
Messi has 21 goals and 12 assists in those matches; Ronaldo has 20 goals and one assist.
Inter Miami will also face Hong Kong’s national team in a preseason friendly in Hong Kong on February 4, before facing Vissel Kobe, of the J1-league, in Japan on February 7.
Messi and Co. will then host the Argentina captain’s youth club team – Newell’s Old Boys at home on February 15, before facing Real Salt Lake City, again at home, in their first MLS game, six days later.
