In pictures: See how Lionel Messi kicks off fever as Global Ambassador of Expo 2020 Dubai

A force to be reckoned with on the green pitch, the Argentine professional football player became the first international face of Expo 2020 Dubai – the biggest event the Arab region has ever witnessed – having been appointed Global Ambassador in 2016, just three years after Dubai won the hosting bid. Through Lionel Andrés Messi’s wide-ranging influential reach, the world fair hopes to ignite a spark of inspiration among the youth and rally the people for ‘Supporting Unity & Collaboration’.

Messi’s legendary sportsmanship needs no rehashing, but in case you’re set to journey to The World’s Greatest Show, here is a snapshot of why Expo’s global ambassador is a household name even among sports muggles: Messi is an all-time top scorer for the same club with 672 goals as of May 27, 2021, under Futbol Club Barcelona; six-time winner of the prestigious football award Ballon d'Or (pictured); the most awarded Best FIFA Men's Player; and the streak of historic records rolls on for the now free agent.

In 2019, the player starred in his debut campaign film for the world exposition, the 60-second video garnering more than 27 million YouTube views, where Messi is seen shooting an Expo-branded football from the event site in Dubai to ‘teammates’ in Barcelona, Kenya, Calcutta and London. Immersed in a lively game of juggling and passing, the diverse cast unites to make the team work, kicking the final baton back to Messi, who playfully misses his own pass to children’s glee.

‘The World is Better When We Act Together’ initiative was supplemented by the distribution of 2,020 Expo-themed yellow footballs to children in Jordan, Kenya and the Philippines, chalking it up to 6,060 balls in total.

The following year, in 2020, the superstar visited the heart of Expo 2020 Dubai, Al Wasl Plaza, to spend quality time with ten UAE school students. Selected from a draw conducted by the Expo School Programme, the students had the opportunity of a lifetime to snap pictures with the global ambassador and walk home with signed memorabilia.

On the tour, Messi said that he was looking forward to visit the world fair when it officially kicks off on October 1: “Like everyone, I will be thrilled to visit Expo 2020 after it opens in October to see for myself the many innovations, live shows, international dishes, arts and cultures from more than 190 countries as the world’s leading showcase of human brilliance and achievement.” Mark your calendars for when one of the best football players in the world touches down on Expo grounds once again.

Messi was seen counting down the months to the anticipated opening earlier this month with another clip feature – this time he’s scoring not for the goal post but rather the crown of Al Wasl Plaza dome. With three months to go, the player is seen warming up on the terrace of an adjacent building before effortlessly shooting a ball right into the plaza’s circular skylight.

The Expo 2020 Dubai global ambassador already has an established presence in international circles from being the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocate.