Lionel Messi proved once again that his influence reaches way beyond football — and this time, it was a casual comment about a drink that shook up the internet and caught the attention of financial markets.

During a recent interview with Luzu TV, the Argentine superstar revealed a surprising personal habit: while he enjoys wine occasionally, he sometimes mixes it with Sprite.

“I like wine, but if not, I have my own habit: wine with Sprite. It hits faster,”
Messi said with a laugh.

What sounded like a harmless (and honestly very Latin) confession instantly went viral — and the ripple effect reportedly made its way all the way to Wall Street. Following the quote spreading online, Coca-Cola Company shares jumped, adding billions in market value and reminding everyone of the commercial power Messi holds even when he’s just joking around.

Messi is currently enjoying some downtime after a huge year with Inter Miami, where he helped lead the club to an MLS title and posted another ridiculous goal tally, scoring 42 goals last season.

While Messi isn’t known for being a regular drinker, the moment made headlines partly because it showed a more relaxed, everyday side of him — and because fans immediately began calling the wine-and-Sprite mix “the Messi special.”

Adding to the story, Messi is also connected to wine on the business side: he reportedly has his own wine brand called “Lionel Collection,” offering several different bottles through his official website.

Whether it’s goals, brands, or even drink choices… Messi continues to move culture — and apparently markets too.