Audemars Piguet welcomed world-renowned soccer star Lionel Messi into its esteemed family last week as the Swiss watch luxury brand’s newest ambassador. Acclaimed Argentine footballer Messi has overcome adversity on and off the field and has become a household name at only 22 years old. It is only fitting that such an accomplished and strong role model represent 135 years of history of the prestigious Audemars Piguet brand.
Messi, the first footballer to join the brand’s family, is teaming up with Audemars Piguet to share knowledge and power to prepare the world’s youth for futures filled with succeeded goals. Messi is using his fame to bring light to the distressed of women and children around the world with his Fundacíon Leo Messi, and was recently named a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. Together with Audemars Piguet’s own foundation, the duo will develop several social projects over the coming years.
“Lionel Messi is an exceptional man, the greatest player of his generation. This young and talented athlete not only embodies pure sporting genius, but also the courage and the determination of a man who fights against all odds to pursue his dreams. Above and beyond his intrinsic value, we are welcoming a big-hearted man with valuable human qualities into the Audemars Piguet family,” said Philippe Merk, Audermars Piguet CEO.
Currently an attacker for legendary FC Barcelona, Messi’s potential on the field was imminent from an early age, but his future was not always secure. The soccer star was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at age 10, but despite setbacks, Messi’s skills sparked a move across the Atlantic to Catalonia, where he soon thereafter led FC Barcelona to several title wins. In his already illustrious career, the striker bearing the emblematic No. 10 jersey holds numerous accolades as an individual and with FC Barcelona, and the Argentine national team, including FIFA 2009 World Player of the Year, 2009-2010 UEFA Champions League Top Goalscorer, a gold medal from the Beijing Olympics, winning the 2006 and 2009 UEFA Champions League, 2009 FIFA World Cup, and the most recent Spanish League.
Breaking records is not new to Audemars Piguet either. The introductions of the smallest minute repeater in the world, the world’s thinnest pocket watch, the first skeleton watch, and thinnest automatic movement, have moved the oldest manufacture in the field of haute horlogerie to the top. Audemars Piguet uses avant-garde techniques and traditional craftsmanship to gain power over the competition and stay one of the leading, if not the leading, luxury watch brands in the world.
Using powerful personal representations of triumph to raise public awareness and influence future generations, Audemars Piguet and its ambassadors are gaining momentum in the fields of sport, art, philanthropy, and technology, and Messi is a natural addition to the team.
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