In Qatar, Lionel Messi proved to be the catalyst for the Albiceleste in their pursuit of a global triumph. The magicman was the point of difference as Argentina lifted the World Cup after a hiatus of 37 years. After his against-the-odds move to David Beckham’s Inter Miami, the 36-year-old has been a talking point among the footballing world. Considering his accolades over his illustrious career, he is arguably the greatest player to ever grace the game.
Parallelly, in the world of basketball, Kobe Bryant is one of the most respected players. Two of the greatest athletes of their generation shared the screen for a commercial and sent their fans into rapturous. Unfortunately, in 2020, the Black Mamba along with his 13-year-old daughter lost their lives in a tragic helicopter crash.
When Lionel Messi crossed paths with NBA Legend Kobe Bryant on plane
There is no denying the fact that Lionel Messi and Kobe Bryant are two of the greatest players in their respective sports. They had huge fan bases, and many companies took advantage of their popularity. Pepsi, Mastercard, Hublot, and Coca-Cola were some of the brands that signed endorsement deals with these athletes over the years. In 2012, Turkish Airlines signed up the former Barcelona superstar as their global ambassador who joined Kobe Bryant and the Tennis superstar Caroline Wozniacki.
The athlete duo agreed to pair up to do an advertisement for Turkish Airlines. In a funny and sweet commercial, they were on a plane, trying to get a kid’s autograph on a ball, but the child seemed more interested in the ice cream offered by the flight attendant.
How did Kobe Bryant and Lionel Messi’s friendship start?
The Basketball legend was an avid follower of football, especially FC Barcelona. The Lakers superstar had close relationships with several footballers, including the legendary Ronaldinho from FC Barcelona. During their tour to the United States, the poster boy of Barcelona, Ronaldinho introduced Kobe to a 17-year-old Lionel Messi. Recalling the incident during an interview, Black Mamba recalled the moment when the Brazilian referred to Messi as the future greatest player of all time.
The NBA legend instantly recognized the sheer talent in the Argentine winger and developed a deep respect for him. Since then, the friendship between the athlete duo has grown by many folds. After the tragic death of the Basketball superstar, the World Cup winner paid tribute and said “I have no words, all my love to Kobe’s family and friends. It was a pleasure knowing you and sharing good times. You were a genius like few others.”
Lionel Messi and Kobe Bryant will be remembered as two of the greatest athletes of all time due to the influence they had in their respective sports. After the commercial resurfaced on social media, the fans felt nostalgic to see the superstar duo share the screen.
