Lionel Messi christens world's largest cruise ship as footie legend helps Inter Miami value DOUBLE to £800m

Posted Friday, January 26, 2024 by Thesun.co.uk

LIONEL MESSI has christened the world's largest cruise ship as a part of Inter Miami's partnership with Royal Caribbean International.

The football superstar announced the name of the new vessel as Icon of the Seas.

The company has become the new shirt sponsor of David Beckham's MLS franchise.

The logo will be displayed on the front of the club's away shirts.

Messi, 36, and his team-mates attended a ceremony at the Port of Miami that was hosted by the cruise line operator.

The Argentine World Cup winner headlined the event as he placed a football on a podium, which set off the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle on the bow of the ship.

This act has been done for years and is said to bring luck to the passengers and the vessel.

Messi took "great pride" in being allowed the opportunity.

After being introduced as "the icon of icons", he said in Spanish: "Hello, thank you very much.

"Above all, I would like to thank everyone at Royal Caribbean for granting me this honour.

"It is a great pride for me for everything this ship means to the city of Miami and to the whole world.

"Therefore, I announce that it has been named Icon of the Seas.

"May God bless it and everyone on it."

The £1.57billion ship is the world's longest liner at 1,198 feet and weighs 250,800 gross tons.

It has a maximum capacity of 7,600 people.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley also spoke at the event.

He said: '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 more exciting when it seems to be really spot on."

The company has revealed that there are multiple entertainment options on the ship.

This includes seven swimming pools, six water slides, the world's largest waterfall, the tallest water slide, and the largest sea-based waterpark.

Inter Miami's value has almost doubled since Messi's arrival last summer.

According to Sportico, the club is now worth £800m, far more than the £458m it was valued before the attacker signed for the club.

The club is now the third most valuable in the MLS, thanks to its revenue being boosted from £43m to £100m.

Los Angeles FC has the highest value in the league as it is valued at £900m.

Atlanta United is the second most valuable at £830m, while Beckham's former club LA Galaxy, is fourth at £790m.

The New York Times has reported that the Inter Miami shirt is the best-selling football jersey in North America, ahead of the likes of Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid and Arsenal.