The Inter Miami CF player, who is widely regarded as the greatest footballer in history, will take part in the ship’s naming ceremony in Miami next month.
Royal said: “The icon of Icon will have the honour of bestowing safekeeping onto the new ship, its crew and the millions of families who will create memories of a lifetime on board in the years to come.”
Icon of the Seas will be the world’s largest cruise ship when it launches at the end of January.
Messi’s new role follows the recent announcement of Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami’s partnership in which the cruise line is the club’s main partner and main vacation partner.
The cruise line’s logo features throughout Inter Miami’s home pitch DRV PNK Stadium, as well as on the club’s digital and social platforms.
Messi said: “I’m thrilled and honoured to join the Royal Caribbean family to celebrate the arrival of the game-changing Icon of the Seas.
“Icon is beyond anything else that’s out there for family vacations, with incredible never-before-seen features, all designed for making memories together.”
Royal Caribbean president Michael Bayley said: “Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of delivering memorable vacations, and it’s set to live up to its name in more ways than one when it changes the vacation industry in January 2024.
“It’s that ability to make such a widespread impact and change the status quo that the icon of Icon must personify, and Lionel Messi has proven to be the perfect example of that for years in the world of sports and most recently in introducing a new era of excitement and passion for football in Miami and the US.”
Icon of the Seas will depart on its maiden voyage on 27 January and will operate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribean sailings, featuring calls to Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
