Icon of the Seas, the Royal Caribbean International ship that will redefine vacations, will feature the presence of a sports icon at its naming ceremony: Lionel Messi.

The world's largest cruise line has revealed that the most decorated footballer in history will welcome the new ship in an exclusive celebration in Miami in January 2024. The ship's crew and their families will be present at this ceremony. In 2023, Royal Caribbean International became the Principal Partner and Official Vacation Partner of Inter Miami CF, of which the football star is a part.

An iconic start will mark the beginning of a new era of vacations when the revolutionary Icon of the Seas by Royal Caribbean International debuts in January 2024. The world's largest cruise line has revealed that sports icon Lionel Messi is the official icon of Icon of the Seas. As the icon of the unique blend of each vacation, the most decorated football player in history will welcome the new ship in an exclusive celebration in Miami.

Widely considered the best of all time, Messi has set and continues to set a long list of records throughout his career, including winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or eight times and being named TIME's Athlete of the Year 2023 for marking the beginning of a new era in football in the U.S. when he joined Royal Caribbean's partner and the new Leagues Cup champion, Inter Miami CF. Icon has also marked record moments in its own right. The highly anticipated vacation reveal in October 2022 drove the highest booking day and the highest booking week in the 53-year history of the cruise line, confirming that vacationers are seeking getaways that combine the best of each type of vacation, from beach retreats to resort getaways and theme park adventures, now more than ever. With six record-breaking water slides, seven pools, the first neighborhood designed for young families, over 40 dining, drinking, and entertainment options, and more, Icon is the place where every type of family and adventurer can create memories together and individually, without compromise.

"I am excited and honored to join the Royal Caribbean family to celebrate the arrival of the revolutionary Icon of the Seas," said Lionel Messi, Icon of Icon of Royal Caribbean International. "Icon goes beyond anything that exists for family vacations, with incredible features never seen before, all designed to create memories together."

Messi's new role follows the recent announcement of the unprecedented partnership between Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami CF, where the cruise line is the principal partner and official vacation partner of the club. United in the sense of leadership, passion, and delivering unforgettable moments to fans and vacationers, Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami CF will also celebrate the arrival of Icon with the next phase of the partnership, details of which will be revealed at a later date.

"Icon of the Seas is the culmination of over 50 years of providing memorable vacations and is ready to live up to its name in more ways than one when it changes the vacation industry in January 2024," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. "It's that ability to have such a broad impact and change the status quo that the Icon of Icon must embody, and Lionel Messi has proven to be the perfect example of this for years in the world of sports and, more recently, by introducing a new era of excitement and passion for football in Miami and the United States."