Lionel Messi swings into the Spider-Man universe in new Brand New Day teaser
Football icon Lionel Messi has made a surprise appearance in a brand-new teaser for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, giving fans an unexpected crossover between the beautiful game and Marvel’s beloved superhero.
Released as the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, the promotional clip cleverly combines football fever with Spider-Man’s return to the big screen.
In the teaser, Messi is seen using a Spider Tracker while exploring New York City, hoping to catch a glimpse of the city’s famous web-slinger. His wish quickly comes true when Peter Parker appears, suits up as Spider-Man, and takes the Argentine legend on an exhilarating swing through the city’s skyline.
The fun cameo has delighted both football and Marvel fans, with many praising the perfect timing of the collaboration during the World Cup.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day marks Tom Holland’s fourth solo outing as Spider-Man. The film follows the dramatic events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, in which Doctor Strange’s spell erased the world’s memory of Peter Parker’s identity, leaving him completely alone after the loss of Aunt May and the disappearance of his closest relationships with MJ and Ned.
According to the film’s synopsis, Peter is now living by himself as a full-time Spider-Man until a dangerous new threat forces him into another battle that could change everything.
The latest teaser also hints at several familiar faces joining the story. Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk are both shown, suggesting that Peter won’t have to face the new challenges entirely on his own. Bruce Banner is expected to help Peter deal with mysterious changes to his DNA, while the Punisher brings his own brutal style of crime-fighting into the adventure.
The film is expected to present a more mature version of Holland’s Spider-Man, moving beyond the high school years that defined his previous appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While the teaser primarily serves as a promotional tie-in with the World Cup, Messi’s appearance has quickly become one of the most talked-about moments online, creating excitement among fans of both football and superhero movies.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to hit theaters on July 31, with the Messi cameo already helping build anticipation for one of Marvel’s biggest releases of the year.
