Longtime rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have joined forces for Louis Vuitton's newest advertising campaign, and a chic photo of the pair together has caused social media to erupt.
A recent photo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi together that exudes quality has stunned football fans. The two enduring arch-rivals have collaborated to create an image that will live on for all time. Throughout their illustrious careers, the Portuguese talisman and Argentinian superstar have established themselves as game legends. In the most recent commercial campaign for the Louis Vuitton clothing company, both players were seen seated across from one another at a chessboard.
Also read: Revealed: What does Cristiano Ronaldo truly think about arch-rival Lionel Messi
The two titans, who have faced off against one another before, appear absorbed in their game as they compete on a board made from a suitcase with the Louis Vuitton logo.
Victory is a State of Mind. A long tradition of crafting trunks photographed by for pic.twitter.com/0TsieZP40P
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano)Messi, a seven-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, is holding one hand on his chin and wearing a grey round-neck jumper with the sleeves pushed up to show off his tattoos as he mulls over his next move.
Aware of the Argentine's strengths and weaknesses, five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, wearing a blue turtleneck jumper, keeps a close eye on the action.
Also read: Argentina predicted to lift Qatar World Cup 2022; here's how many goals Messi could score
Both athletes posted the picture on their social media pages with the caption: "Victory is a State of Mind. A long tradition of crafting trunks."
"Pictures of the century," noted fans of both the footballing legends on social media platforms as they went into a frenzy. "Will this be the most liked tweet in history," asked another enthusiast.
One fan wrote: "The greatest picture I've seen this year", while another eagle-eyed fan said, "For my chess nerds: This position on the board is the same as the 2017 game of Magnus Carlsen v Hikaru, 2 of the greatest chess masters. The game ended with a draw."
📝 | There is no doubt that this was done on purpose:
The chess pieces on the board of Messi and Cristiano exactly repeat the position of the pieces in one of the games between Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura in 2017.
That game ended in a draw. pic.twitter.com/2W0zDRE6sb
"Ronaldo is winning the chess game btw," noted another chess nerd.
"What ever Louis Vuitton is planning to sell. It's the fastest and easiest sellout ever. - This is one of the greatest pictures ever. What's better than one goat [greatest of all time]. Two," said another fan.
While Messi and Ronaldo are playing together this season, they might be competing for their respective nations next month if Argentina and Portugal draw each other in the Qatar World Cup 2022. If both teams advance from the group stage of what appears to be their respective final World Cups, the teams may face off in the knockout stages.
Ronaldo finally clarified his connection with Messi in his candid interview with Piers Morgan for Talk TV this week after the two were so frequently characterised as bitter competitors.
"Amazing player is magic, top… "Ronaldo said. "As a person, we share the stage 16 years, imagine, 16 years. We share. So, I have great relationship with him. I'm not friend of him in terms of, what I mean friend is the guy who was with you in your house, speaking on the phone, no, but it's like a team-mate. He's a guy that I really respect the way he always speak about me. Even his wife or my wife, my girlfriend, they always respect and they're from Argentina. My girlfriend is from Argentina. So good. What I am going to say about Messi? A great guy who does great things for football," said the Portuguese icon in the explosive interview.
Here's a look at some of the reactions on Twitter:
: Checkmate in 15 https://t.co/cmG8FkmQhz
— 🔥 (@DC_bzori)best picture of the year https://t.co/5Bp3P6ipfL
— Olivia (@Liv_beardsley)hey, can you tell us what's going on? and how it would be solved? https://t.co/Z2L7cjOj8h
— mindingthings (@mindingthing)AYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Might be the most iconic linkup ever ngl, insane picture, hang it at the Louvre ffs https://t.co/85oG4cgRIH pic.twitter.com/tmsK3shYmg
All of you pawns can now rest because these kings you are fighting about have other games to play!
Checkmate! https://t.co/Tnj4M01dDg
Crazy thing is the chess details are actually from a real game:
Carlsen vs Nakamura (2017). It ended in a draw with a threefold reputation. https://t.co/RbJ2hvqjGM
Every photographer who came to be when was shooting admires her greatly. She is the Pele, Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams & Kobe Bryant of photography! We stan her body of work! & are lucky to be photographed by her. https://t.co/laSYCM4jzq
— The People’s Watchman (@bonifacemwangi)Game of Legends 🔥 https://t.co/Iblf1sDrcP
— 🇵🇸&~نفساوي~&🇵🇸 (@M0oM0o7)Meanwhile their fans https://t.co/HdJakT2V7k pic.twitter.com/v44tb2csbP
— Rero; (@ReroSketches)Lovely 😍🥹 https://t.co/0a7mLblBIs pic.twitter.com/blbAow6FQl
— PENDING MILLIONAIRE (@kiroteach)It’s reallllll https://t.co/oc52CDyJre pic.twitter.com/CoNb1HHG9T
— Ten (@tenzyzy)For my chess nerds:
This position on the board is the same as the 2017 game of Magnus Carlsen v Hikaru, 2 of the greatest chess masters.
The game ended with a draw 🥶 https://t.co/Sotzl6pynj
1604 goals excluding friendlies, 75 trophies, 12 ballon'dor, 7 football Clubs, 2 countries
heaviest picture in the history of football 🐐🐐,
Two greatest players to ever graced the football pitch. The best there’s, the best there was and the best there ever will be!! https://t.co/zDzkCngK30
Ronaldo is winning the chess game btw 🐐 https://t.co/zSNGfLfe2j
— Hayian Omran (@HayianO)Carlsen vs Nakamura
Norway Chess (2017) https://t.co/g3inTAuWUx
Two greats, brilliant photography and an eye for every detail... Well done Louis Vuitton.
It's actually from a real game: Carlsen vs Nakamura (2017). It ended in a draw with a threefold reputation. https://t.co/2oJA4ZsffT pic.twitter.com/br0l940Aq4
I think the world champion Magnus Carlsen worked with the Louis Vutton team to set up the position on the board.
Here's the actual game between Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. It ended in a draw🙂 https://t.co/SyT3rCUaHz pic.twitter.com/jIzHrPMPRU
Chess players can confirm the setup in the placement of the pieces on the board in this GOATs Photo is a genuine scenario from a famous game in chess history between two of the best to ever do it (Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura -2017) which ended in a draw. pic.twitter.com/y9fNdyj29S
— Perato N_Senior*️⃣ (@PeratoN_Senior)