Football legend Lionel Messi has broken the internet after stepping into Spider-Man’s world in a surprise promotional crossover for Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
The new video features an unexpected link-up between the iconic web-slinger and the Argentine superstar, building hype ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The promo shows Messi swinging across New York’s rooftops, delighting fans of both football and superhero franchises.
The promo begins with Peter Parker sitting in a New York café, engaged in a phone conversation. Mid-call, he suddenly shouts, “Shut up!”, leaving the person on the other end confused. The reason soon becomes clear as Messi walks through the café doors.
A surprised Peter asks, “You’re Messi?”, while the café owner casually replies, “Yeah, he knows,” treating the arrival of one of football’s greatest stars as routine.
Messi, meanwhile, says he is also looking for someone and shows his phone, revealing he is trying to find Spider-Man.
Peter steps away briefly and returns in his Spider-Man suit. Before Messi can fully react, Spider-Man asks, “You’re good with heights?” Moments later, both are seen swinging between Manhattan skyscrapers, with Messi experiencing life on a web for the first time.
Fans have filled the YouTube comment section with hilarious comments, saying, “Messi’s cameo was more unexpected than a plot twist.”
Another wrote, “Can’t believe Messi is expanding his multiverse again.” “Peter’s life gets a bit Messi.” Another joked the usual refrain, “Messi will return in Avengers Doomsday,” a reference to the past few Marvel films where the tagline was revealed about a particular character.
The light-hearted advert arrives as anticipation builds for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Tom Holland’s fourth solo outing as Marvel’s web-slinger.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, best known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the film also sees Zendaya return as MJ, while Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner are expected to appear. The film is set to release in cinemas on July 30.
