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Huawei signs FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi as global brand ambassador

Published:Thursday | March 17, 2016 | 12:00 AMShayne Fairman, Sport Writer
FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (right) shows off his new Huawei watch presented to him today by CEO Huawei Consumer, Business Group Latin America, Tyrone Liu, at a press conference in Barcelona, Spain.
FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi at a press conference at the Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos Hotel in Barcelona, Spain today.
FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (right) shows off a tablet while CEO Huawei Consumer, Business Group Latin America, Tyrone Liu, addresses the audience today in Barcelona, Spain. CEO Handsets Business, Huawei Business Group, Kevin Ho looks on.
FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
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BARCELONA, Spain:
Argentine and FC Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi today became global ambassador for leading ICT and telecommunications firm, Huawei.

The announcement was made today at the Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I Hotel in Spain.

While some global media have been speculating that the deal will cost Huawei around €8 million annually, the Asian-based organisation’s officials did not reveal an exact figure.

However, they indicated that they want to secure a long-term partnership with the world’s top rated footballer.

According to Huawei, Messi’s passion inspires millions worldwide to strive for excellence, hence the partnership.

Meanwhile, the brand says its alignment with Messi demonstrates a world leader in the global market, while they strive toward a shared value of “connecting greatness.”

“Lionel Messi will help our brand to encourage people to focus, persevere and breakthrough, to connect with greatness, especially in Europe, Asia and Latin America where Huawei has great devotions,” said,  Kevin Ho,  President, Handset Business, Huawei Consumer BG, a short while ago.

He stressed that Huawei and Messi was a perfect fit as it seeks to sell smart phones and other ICT technologies in over 170 countries, including Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

Responding to the partnership Messi said: “You have to sacrifice and go all in, always looking forward to achieving greatness. The day you think there are no improvements to be made, you have to keep working to reaching other achievements.”

Huawei is currently among the top three smartphone manufacturers in the world, the others being rivals Apple and Samsung.