Buenos Aires: Lionel Messi, who took home the world title, is introduced as Santa Claus in front of children in the Argentine Football Federation’s advertising video.
When a little boy opens the gift box his father put under the Christmas tree, he sees the World Cup inside. The video shows the excited boy picking him up and kissing him.
‘Thank you dad Lionel! The most precious gift has already arrived at home. “Congratulations to all the people of Argentina,” the Argentine Football Federation captioned the video.
At the beginning of the video a little boy, who appears to be four or five years old, is seen walking down the stairs, his eyes fixed on the large gift box wrapped in red ribbons beyond the front glass doors. Opening the doors, he stepped forward with the gift box under the glittering Christmas tree. His eyes lit up and a look of bewilderment flashed across his face as he untied the knots of the red ribbons in an instant and opened the gift box. A gift from dad Lionel of Qatar for him and for each of his mates in Argentina. “Thanks, Papa Lionel,” he cried as he lifted the glittering World Cup trophy and kissed it.
Santa Claus is known as Papa Noel in Argentina.
The video, tweeted by the Argentine Football Federation on Christmas Eve, has already been seen and shared by millions.