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Lionel Messi scores off the pitch with a pair of new endorsement deals.
It’s been a fast-paced month for Lionel Messi as speculation about where the global soccer icon would play the 2020-21 season captivated the world of sport. After pushing for the release of his Barcelona contract without activating an $ 825 million exit clause, Messi reluctantly returned to training on Monday with the world’s second most valuable soccer club.
Lionel Messi’s business is also advancing, as his club prepares to host Gimnastic in a friendly on Saturday; Messi is not likely to adapt. Barça is expected to pay the forward approximately $ 92 million this season, including incentives. The six-time Golden Globe winner also has a pair of new endorsement deals, increasing his annual off-court earnings of more than $ 30 million.
Anheuser-Busch InBev brand Budweiser unveiled its three-year sponsorship with Messi on Tuesday through a new 45-second commercial replaying its summer drama with Barcelona.
“They said it was too small. Now they say that it has grown too much. They say that he has stopped loving the city. They say their heart is not in it. They say the dynasty is over. They say his greatness is gone. So what does it say, “asks the narrator? It closes with the slogans of” Never give up on greatness “and” Be a king. “
Messi-branded Budweiser bottles will be available in select bars and retailers in Argentina, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Russia, Spain and Vietnam.
Messi unveiled another endorsement Wednesday morning on his social media channels, which have a combined 257 million followers on Instagram and Facebook, the second-most in sports behind rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
It is partnering with OrCam Technologies, which uses artificial intelligence-powered computer vision to bring greater independence to people who are blind or visually impaired. The OrCam MyEye device reads printed and digital text aloud and can recognize faces and consumer products. The Israel-based firm was founded in 2010 and has raised $ 86 million in venture funds, according to Crunchbase; was valued at $ 1 billion in 2018.
An OrCam spokesperson says the company was drawn to Messi as a global ambassador as a symbol for overcoming physical barriers. Messi endured human growth hormone treatment when he was younger because he was so young and became the greatest soccer player of all time.
The three-year partnership between Messi and OrCam was sealed just before the coronavirus pandemic, but was not announced until today. Messi organized a meet and greet in March in Barcelona with 12 blind and visually impaired people from all over the world and will continue those meetings in the future.
Messi treated a dozen Orcam users with the excitement of his life.
Messi’s other sponsoring partners include Adidas, Lays, Mastercard
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