Lionel Messi presents a gold iPhone to members and staff of the FIFA World Cup winning team

Lionel Messi: To commemorate the victory and cherish the beautiful moment of victory, Lionel Andrés Messi, captain of the Argentina football team, presented stunning golden iPhones to his winning team members and staff.

Messi, a seven-time Ballons d’Or winner, spent around £175,000 i.e. around Rs 1 billion 72 lakh on 35 individual phones, reports say.

Argentina won the FIFA World Cup under Messi’s guidance last December. With the team’s victory, Lio Messi lifted his first World Cup trophy in 2022.

According to a report published in The Sun, Leo Messi wanted to give his teammates and staff a personal memento to appreciate their contribution.

Messi ordered 35 smartphones in 24k gold to celebrate the success with a personalized gift. These phones are engraved with details like the player’s name, shirt number, Argentina logo and the back says “World Cup Champions 2022”.

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Shortly after winning the World Cup, Messi contacted iDesign Gold Company CEO Ben Lyons, the report added.

The Sun quoted a source as saying that Messi “wanted to do something special and bling to celebrate his proudest moment. He got in touch with entrepreneur Ben Lyons and they developed the design together.”

iDesign Gold CEO Ben Lyons told The Sun: “Lionel is not only the GOAT but one of iDesigns Gold’s most loyal customers and got in touch with us a few months after the World Cup finals.”

“He said he wanted a special gift for all the players and staff to celebrate the amazing win, but he didn’t want the usual gift of watches,” Lyons continued, adding that he suggested “gold iPhones with their names on them and.” he loved the idea”.

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FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi was named player of the tournament

In the final of the FIFA World Cup, held in Qatar last year, Argentina defeated France on penalties to win the World Cup after many decades. Messi won the Player of the Tournament award.

After winning the World Cup, Messi said the tournament would be his last, but hinted in a recent interview that he was open to the possibility of playing at the next World Cup in 2026.

He recently told Diario Ole, a sports newspaper in Argentina: “Due to age, it will be difficult to make it in 2026. I love playing football and while I feel like I’m in good shape and enjoying it, I’ll keep at it. It seems a long time before the next World Cup, but it depends on how my career goes.”

(with agency input)