Spider-Man actor Tom Holland says Lionel Messi was his favorite superhero growing up

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Tom Holland admits that his favorite superhero growing up wasn’t the iconic Spider-Man that he now plays, but Lionel Messi.

Holland featured alongside Messi in a promo for the new Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie where Spidey gives Messi a ride on his webs.

That promotional shoot might have actually had a swapped superhero moment, as Holland has now revealed how he actually views the 39-year-old legend.

Tom Holland makes Lionel Messi admission when asked about his favorite superheroes

Holland was doing an interview and was asked about his favorite superheroes growing up. Instead of naming another Marvel character or the one he plays, he named the Argentine football legend.

“I’ve always really loved Messi.”

Messi is akin to a superhero for an entire generation of football fans for his on-field accomplishments. He’s one win away from likely cementing his status as the GOAT of the sport.

While superheroes capture the imaginations of children through their larger-than-life personalities and unique powers, Messi has done it through pure on-field skill and brilliance.

Lionel Messi is 90 minutes away from cementing his legacy

There is real skill that goes behind being proclaimed a superhero by the man who’s literally an idol to an entire generation because he’s Spider-Man.

Messi has generated that sort of following with on-field accomplishments, including his run to the 2026 World Cup Final. While most of us aren’t still growing up, a football-crazy six-year-old may as well believe Messi has superpowers when it comes to the sport with the incredible career he’s had.

Argentina will face Spain in the 2026 World Cup Final, with a lot on the line for Messi. He can lead Argentina to be the first team since 1962 to defend the title of World Cup Champions.

Scoring a goal would help him re-tie the all-time World Cup scoring record, after Kylian Mbappe broke it with a brace in the third-place match.

Many assumed that the 2022 World Cup title had confirmed Messi’s legacy as the GOAT.

While that was debatable then, it’ll be impossible to debate after he becomes the only modern player to lead his national team to defend the World Cup title in a period of unparalleled dominance over the last six years.