“Unforgettable Gift”: Mohanlal Receives signed Jersey From Lionel Messi

April 20, 2025: In a heartwarming cross-continental moment that bridged the worlds of cinema and sport, Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal received a priceless gift from football’s greatest — Lionel Messi.

The acclaimed actor took to social media on Sunday to share a video and photos of the cherished gift: a personally signed jersey from Messi himself. The video captures Messi gently signing the jersey, while the accompanying images show a visibly moved Mohanlal holding it with joy and pride.

Captioning the moment on X (formerly Twitter), Mohanlal wrote,

“Some moments in life feel too profound for words. They stay with you forever. Today, I experienced one of those moments. As I gently unwrapped the gift, my heart skipped a beat — a jersey signed by the legend himself, Lionel Messi. And there it was, my name, written in his own hand.”

The emotional post continued with gratitude, acknowledging two close friends — Dr. Rajeev Mangottil and Rajesh Philip — for making the surprise possible.

“For someone who has long admired Messi, not just for his brilliance on the field but for his humility and grace, this was truly special… Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And above all, thank you, God, for this unforgettable gift.”

The post quickly went viral, with fans from both the football and film worlds applauding the beautiful gesture and celebrating the mutual respect between icons.

On the Work Front

Mohanlal was last seen in the high-octane action thriller ‘L2: Empuraan’, released on March 27, where he starred alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran, who also directed the film. The movie was a sequel to the 2019 hit Lucifer and was well-received at the box office.

The veteran actor also confirmed that the much-anticipated third installment of the ‘Drishyam’ series is currently in development. The franchise, which began in 2013, has been a cornerstone of Malayalam cinema and inspired remakes across multiple Indian languages, including a successful Hindi adaptation starring Ajay Devgn.

From captivating audiences on-screen to now sharing a special bond with global football royalty, Mohanlal continues to be a timeless figure — one whose presence transcends borders and mediums.