Dubai Expo 2020 ambassador and Barca star Messi meets minister

Barcelona superstar and Dubai Expo 2020 ambassador Lionel Messi met Reem Al Hashemy, Minister of State and director general of Expo 2020, on Monday.

Messi was in the city to take part in a promotional campaign. He often visits Dubai to attend such events after being named as envoy of the world’s biggest event of the year 2020.

Dubai Expo 2020 is considered as a truly global extravaganza, which begins in October and runs until April 2021.

Messi’s appointment came in the wake of his global appeal among the young people around the world. He is also a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Global Goodwill UNICEF ambassador.

Commenting on his appointment as Expo 2020 ambassador, Reem had said: “Lionel Messi’s performances on the football pitch bring people together, and as a result his influence reaches far beyond it.

“He is an ideal person to be our first global ambassador and perfectly placed to reach out to young people around the world, bringing them together to join us as we work towards hosting our World Expo in 2020.”

Following his appointment in the 2016, Messi also shot quite a few videos to promote the uniqueness of the event, which will bring together the people of different cultures and countries. In one such video, he was seen flaunting his skills to spread a message of unity and collaboration via the medium of football that kicked off his debut campaign as an Expo 2020 Dubai global ambassador.

The 60-second film shows the world-famous footballer and people around the planet connecting through the universal language of football as they keep the Expo 2020 ball airborne through teamwork. Shot in the UAE, India, the UK and Kenya, it celebrates cultural diversity and its ability to break down barriers.

After shooting the video, Messi said, “A football team can only succeed by working together, and the same is true of humanity. When people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds come together we can better address global challenges and create a brighter future for generations to come.”

The campaign is Expo 2020’s first with Messi, who has won a record-tying five Ballon d’Or awards for best football player globally and a record five European Golden Shoes for scoring the most goals in a year. The film was created by a team of various nationalities and the music was composed with an Arabic melody and a call for togetherness in an African dialect.

As part of the initiative, Expo 2020 will also give 2,020 durable footballs to children in Jordan, Kenya and the Philippines, totalling 6,060 balls. The balls represent Expo 2020’s aim to facilitate collaboration and the strengthening of ties within communities, while spreading happiness.

The first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, Expo 2020 Dubai kicks off in October 2020 for a six-month celebration held under the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.’