Actor Tom Holland has shared an emotional story about meeting football legend Lionel Messi, describing the Argentine star as one of the very few people who has ever left him genuinely star-struck.
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Speaking about the experience, the Spider-Man actor revealed that Messi had been one of his childhood heroes long before they met in person. Holland said he had the opportunity to visit the football icon in Miami to watch him play and thanked Messi for taking part in promotional content related to the Spider-Man franchise.
Holland also recalled an earlier meeting with the football superstar at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, calling it one of the most memorable moments of his life.
According to the actor, the atmosphere in the room changed the moment Messi arrived.
“We’re in this room. There were football players everywhere, people that I really admire,” Holland said, adding that when Messi walked in with his family, “the energy in the room had changed.”
Although Holland is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, he admitted that athletes inspire a different level of admiration because of the pressure they face throughout their careers.
“I don’t usually get star-struck around people that do what I do, but athletes—for me—there’s something about performing on that stage week in and week out,” he explained.
Holland contrasted the demands of acting with professional sports, saying actors experience pressure around film releases, but athletes must consistently perform at the highest level over many years.
He praised Messi for maintaining that standard throughout his career and expressed gratitude for the footballer’s willingness to participate in the promotional campaign.
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Holland also revealed that the video featuring Messi became the most viral promotional content produced for the film, highlighting the global appeal of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
The actor’s remarks have delighted fans of both Hollywood and football, with many praising the mutual respect between two of the world’s most recognisable stars.