"Tata Motors is a true representation of India" - When Lionel Messi hailed iconic Indian brand led by late Ratan Tata
The legendary Lionel Messi once hailed the late Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata, who breathed his last at the age of 86 on Wednesday (October 9) in Mumbai. The iconic industrialist was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2008, India's second highest civilian honour.
The former Tata Sons chairman oversaw the appointment of Messi as the brand ambassador for Tata Motors' newly launched Zica (now called Tiago) hatchback in November 2015, with the association with the Argentine said to be a first among Indian companies.
Messi had said at the time (as per Republic World):
“I am very excited about my first association with an Indian brand and am extremely thrilled to be a part of the Tata Motors family. I have always been fascinated by India and have heard such great things about this diverse country.”
“Tata Motors is a true representation of India and a well-established brand, globally. It is important to believe in yourself and keep pushing to achieve success, and that is what the first campaign stands for."
Messi could once again be associated with the Tata group. As per Motor Octane (via Republic World), Messi shot a commerical for the brand's Tata Kite vehicle, set for release around the Christmas holiday period.
What Tata Motors had said about appointing Lionel Messi as their brand ambassador
Lionel Messi is one of the best players in the game's history and is still going strong after nearly two decades in the sport. Back when he was at Barcelona, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner became Tata Motors' first-ever brand ambassador.
As per Economic Times Auto, the then President, Passenger Vehicles business unit, Mayank Pareek, said about the Tata Group's association with the Argentina captain in November 2015:
“Through this powerful campaign we will communicate the values & ethos of the passenger vehicle business. As we look to expand our footprint across the globe, Messi's unique ability to appear globally, transcending geographies, makes him an ideal person to represent our brand, internationally. This is the first campaign in the series, and many more will unfold as we move on in this long-term association."
As per Mint, Messi earned Rs 60 crore (around €6.5 million as per current valuation) annually by being the brand ambassador of Tata Motors. Fast forward nearly a decade, the 37-year-old continues to be associated with top brands/groups like Adidas, Gillette, Turkish Airlines and Saudi Arabia tourism.