Champion footballer Lionel Messi has been named as the official Icon of the latest ship to join the Royal Caribbean fleet, ‘Icon of the Seas’, weeks before it begins its first cruise.

Captain of the Football World Cup winner Argentina, ace footballer Lionel Messi has been designated the official Icon of the Icon of the Seas, the latest cruise-liner to join the fleet of Royal Caribbean International.

According to a press statement by Royal Caribbean International, which is the world’s largest cruise line, Messi, as the Icon of the first-of-its-kind combination of every vacation, will welcome the new ship at an exclusive naming celebration in Miami.

Widely regarded as the greatest of all time, Messi has and continues to set a long list of records throughout his career that includes winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or award eight times and being named TIME’s 2023 Athlete of the Year for ushering in a new era of football in the United States when he joined Royal Caribbean partner and new Leagues Cup champion Inter Miami CF. 

The statement adds that in its own right, Icon has also marked record-breaking moments. The highly anticipated vacation’s reveal in October 2022 spurred the single largest booking day and highest volume booking week in the cruise line’s then 53-year history, confirming vacationers are looking for a getaway that combines the best of every type of vacation, from the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure ,now more than ever. 

The statement adds that with six record-setting waterslides, seven pools, the first neighbourhood designed for young families, more than 40 ways to dine, drink and be entertained, and more, Icon is where every type of family and adventurer can make memories together and on their own without compromise.

“I am thrilled and honored to join the Royal Caribbean family to celebrate the arrival of the game-changing Icon of the Seas. Icon is beyond anything else that’s out there for family vacations, with incredible never-before-seen features, all designed for making memories together,” says Messi.

The statement adds that Messi’s new role follows the recent announcement of Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami CF’s unprecedented partnership in which the cruise line is the Club’s Main Partner and Official Vacation Partner. United in the sense of leadership, passion and delivering unforgettable moments to fans and vacationers, Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami CF will also celebrate the arrival of Icon with the next phase of the partnership, details of which will be revealed at a later date.

“Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of delivering memorable vacations, and it’s set to live up to its name in more ways than one when it changes the vacation industry in January 2024. It is that ability to make such a widespread impact and change the status quo that the Icon of Icon must personify, and Lionel Messi has proven to be the perfect example of that for years in the world of sports and most recently in introducing a new era of excitement and passion for fútbol in Miami and the U.S,” says Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.

As part of a longstanding maritime tradition, Messi will take part in the iconic naming celebration for Icon in January 2024 in Miami. The Icon of Icon will have the honor of bestowing safekeeping onto the new ship, its crew and the millions of families who will create memories of a lifetime on board in the years to come.

The statement adds that whether “family vacation” means getting away as a family, couple or friends, everyone can make memories their way every day with Icon’s all-encompassing lineup of firsts and next-level favourites across eight neighbourhoods. Each neighbourhood is a destination in itself filled with a variety of experiences, live entertainment, restaurants, bars and more.