Soccer World Champion
Gold-plated iPhones for 158,000 euros: Lionel Messi thanks him with a special gift for the World Cup victory
“If you want to know what football is, watch ten seconds of Messi.” Sp, the great football philosopher Jorge Valdano talks about the 35-year-old. The World Cup victory makes the story of the soccer star perfect.
© Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
The Argentinian football team can’t stop celebrating – that’s how happy they are about the World Cup title. As a thank you for the success of his “Albiceleste”, world footballer Lionel Messi gave his teammates a gold-plated iPhone 14 Pro.
They have the trophy, they have the medals – but apparently that’s not enough for the Argentine team as a souvenir of the 2022 World Cup title. Captain Lionel Messi therefore apparently spent around 158,000 euros a few weeks after the historic victory and bought his 35th Teammates each have a gold-plated iPhone 14 Pro (tested here).
“iDesign Gold”, an Irish company based in Dublin, is delighted with the lavish order. On Facebook the company writes that it has already delivered a total of 35 devices for the Argentine team and staff to Messi.
The case of the Messi iPhones is made of 24 carat gold, each smartphone bears the shirt number and the name of the respective player.
© iDesign Gold
Exact price of Messi iPhones unclear
The devices are each an iPhone 14 Pro, the hardware of which has been installed in a new housing with a 24-carat gold layer and engraving, according to the provider. Messi had their own iPhone 14 Pro made for everyone involved in the World Cup victory. Next to the camera is the number and the name, instead of the Apple logo, the emblem of the “Albiceleste” and the addition “World Cup Champions 2022” are emblazoned on the devices. Below the logos of the manufacturers, the so-called “Patrick Group” and “iDesign Gold“.
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Disassembled: This is how much the iPhone 14 was rebuilt inside
The British”Sunreports that Lionel Messi spent £175,000 (197,663 euros) on the devices. However, that would not match the price on the iDesign Gold website, as an iPhone 14 Pro costs £4000 according to the provider, what The equivalent of 4,512 euros. Multiplied by 35, that would be exactly 157,920 euros – and that without a discount for the gigantic advertising effect that a large order from a world footballer has for a small company like “iDesign Gold”. star the exact amount Messi has paid has not yet been announced.
criticism of the gifts
Not everyone is thrilled with the lavish gifts given to the Argentina team. One user wrote on Instagram: “[…] This is just ridiculous, unsustainable and a total waste of resources and money. I bet there are a lot of Argentinians who could use the money better. Even if you want to give your buddies something special, what a stupid idea.” Others complain about the huge company logo of the two manufacturers.
In the Handover of the devices in Paris Lionel Messi didn’t look dissatisfied at all.