Lionel Messi spends Rs 1.73 Cr to gift ‘gold’ phones to World Cup-winning Argentina team

Argentina captain Lionel Messi spend £175,000 (Rs 1.73 crore) to gift 35 gold-plated iPhone 14S to the 2022 FIFA World Cup winning team. 

As reported by The Sun, the gift order of 24-carat gold iPhones was delivered to his apartment Saturday. Each device engraves every player’s name, number and Argentina logo. 

Such an effort by the two-time Golden Ball winner was to commemorate his team’s historic achievement in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

A source was quoted as saying that Messi got in touch with Ben Lyons, CEO of smartphone customization service IDESIGN Gold to make the special order.

“Lionel is not only the GOAT but he’s one of IDESIGN GOLD’s most loyal customers and got in touch with us a couple of months after the World Cup final,” Lyons was quoted as saying. 

“He (Messi) said he wanted a special gift for all the players and staff to celebrate the amazing win but didn’t want the usual gift of watches. So, I suggested gold iPhones inscribed with their names and he loved the idea.”

With such a gift, the GOAT has tried to immortalize the glory that his countrymen brought home after a 36-year-long wait since Maradona won the cup for Argentina in 1986.

Leo Messi has gifted 35 golden iPhone 14s to the entire World Cup-winning Argentina squad and staff 🤩 pic.twitter.com/AzDljHqz0I

— MC (@CrewsMat10) March 2, 2023