Tom Holland takes Lionel Messi web-slinging in Spider-Man promo
Synopsis
Marvel has pulled off one of 2026's cleverest promotional stunts — pairing Spider-Man: Brand New Day's Tom Holland with Lionel Messi for a web-slinging joyride across New York, timed perfectly to World Cup fever. It's a franchise reset wrapped in a viral moment, and India gets the film on 30 July 2026 in six languages.
Key Takeaways
Tom Holland and Lionel Messi feature in a promotional video for Spider-Man: Brand New Day , released ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup .
The clip shows Messi discovering Peter Parker in a New York coffee shop before being taken on a web-slinging ride across the city.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the fourth MCU Spider-Man film , directed by Destin Daniel Cretton .
The film releases in India on 30 July 2026 in six languages via Sony Pictures Entertainment India .
The cast includes Zendaya , Sadie Sink , Jacob Batalon , Jon Bernthal , and Mark Ruffalo .
Tom Holland and football legend Lionel Messi have teamed up for a promotional video for the upcoming Marvel film Spider-Man: Brand New Day, set for release in India on 30 July 2026 across six languages. The clip, released by the film's makers ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has quickly captured attention online for its playful blend of football royalty and superhero spectacle.
What Happens in the Video
The promotional clip opens with Messi on the hunt for Spider-Man on the streets of New York City. His search leads him to a cosy coffee shop, where he unexpectedly crosses paths with Peter Parker — played by Holland. In a moment of reveal, Holland suits up as the web-slinger and whisks Messi on a rooftop-to-rooftop joyride, slinging webs across the Manhattan skyline, leaving the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner visibly mesmerised.
About Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the fourth MCU Spider-Man film, picking up from the emotional fallout of Spider-Man: No Way Home. After Doctor Strange's memory-erasing spell wipes the world's knowledge of Peter Parker, he embarks on a solitary new chapter as a full-time, street-level hero protecting New York City — without the familiar support of MJ or Ned.
The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, and Justin Kuritzkes. It is based on the Marvel Comics characters created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and produced by Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal, Avi Arad, and Rachel O'Connor, with Louis D'Esposito and David Cain serving as executive producers.
Cast and India Release Details
The film features an ensemble cast including Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo. In India, the film will be distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment India on 30 July 2026 in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.
The Bigger Picture
The Messi crossover is a calculated marketing move timed to capitalise on World Cup fever sweeping global audiences in mid-2026. Marvel has previously leveraged major sporting events for franchise visibility, and pairing its most bankable superhero with the world's most recognisable footballer signals a concerted push to broaden the film's reach beyond traditional comic-book audiences. Notably, the Brand New Day storyline also represents Marvel's bid to reset Spider-Man as a more grounded, independent hero — a creative pivot that the studio hopes will reinvigorate the franchise after the universe-altering events of No Way Home.
Point of View
And a Messi cameo — timed to the World Cup — is a shortcut to billions of eyeballs who may not have bought a ticket otherwise. Whether the film itself can deliver on the franchise reset its storyline promises is a separate question entirely; the marketing, at least, is playing an A-game.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tom Holland and Lionel Messi Spider-Man video about?
It is a promotional clip for Spider-Man: Brand New Day in which Messi searches for Spider-Man, stumbles upon Peter Parker in a New York coffee shop, and is then taken on a web-slinging joyride across the city by Tom Holland in full costume. The video was released by the film's makers ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
When does Spider-Man: Brand New Day release in India?
The film is scheduled to release in India on 30 July 2026. Sony Pictures Entertainment India will distribute it in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.
What is Spider-Man: Brand New Day about?
It is the fourth MCU Spider-Man film, set after the events of No Way Home . Following Doctor Strange's spell that erases the world's memory of Peter Parker, the film follows a now-isolated Spider-Man navigating life without MJ and Ned while facing new threats and changes to his abilities.
Who directed Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, and Justin Kuritzkes. It is produced by Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal, Avi Arad, and Rachel O'Connor.
Who else stars in Spider-Man: Brand New Day besides Tom Holland?
The film features Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, and Mark Ruffalo, among others.
