Spider-Man and Lionel Messi appear in new promo video

A new promotional video featuring actor Tom Holland's Spider-Man and global football icon Lionel Messi has been released, generating significant online buzz ahead of the upcoming film "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." The 40-second clip, released on Tuesday, June 30, shows Messi searching for the superhero in New York City.

The video depicts Messi entering a café where he encounters Peter Parker. After Messi explains he is using a "Spidey tracker" app to find Spider-Man, Parker excuses himself and returns in costume. Spider-Man then takes a visibly awestruck Messi on a web-slinging ride through the city's skyline. The campaign, timed to coincide with the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup where Messi is playing for Argentina, quickly amassed millions of views across social media platforms.

While the exact financial terms of Messi's involvement have not been disclosed by Sony or Marvel, the collaboration underscores the athlete's considerable marketing power. Unverified claims about his fee circulated online, but no official confirmation has been provided. Industry analysts note such crossovers are increasingly common as studios seek viral marketing moments to reach broad, global audiences...