Lionel Messi has commissioned a brand-new Sunreef ULTIMA 88 luxury catamaran, which is rather a spectacular way of telling the world that he’d quite like a bit of peace and quiet.
The Argentine football legend has spent most of his life with millions and millions of people screaming his name, so the idea of disappearing into the Mediterranean aboard an 88-foot floating palace probably sounds pretty appealing.
And frankly, who could blame him?
The yacht is currently under construction at Sunreef Yachts‘ shipyard in the United Arab Emirates, where the Polish-founded manufacturer builds some of the most extraordinary luxury catamarans money can buy. Messi is now officially part of what the company calls the “House of Sunreef“, an exclusive club of owners that includes several other sporting superstars.
It’s the sort of club where the membership fee probably costs more than an MLS midfielder earns in a year.
Once completed, Messi’s ULTIMA 88 will join his MIM Ocean fleet in Spain’s Balearic Islands. Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca. All those glorious little corners of the Mediterranean where the sea looks like someone has poured an enormous bottle of turquoise ink into it.
Of course, Messi already knows his way around these waters. He’s spent plenty of time aboard yachts with his family over the years, but this latest addition should take the experience to an entirely different level.
An 88-Foot Floating Family Retreat
The Sunreef ULTIMA 88 is a rather clever piece of engineering. Catamarans have two hulls, which means there’s an enormous amount of usable space between them, and Sunreef has become particularly good at turning that space into something resembling a five-star hotel.
Messi’s yacht will feature four guest cabins, giving friends and family somewhere rather more comfortable to sleep than the average Mediterranean holiday rental. There’s also a full-beam master suite, where the footballer can presumably wake up to the sound of the sea instead of another journalist asking whether he’s better than Cristiano Ronaldo.
That alone must be worth a fortune.
One of the yacht’s more interesting features is Sunreef’s signature Ocean Lounge, an expansive area designed to make the water feel like an extension of the yacht itself. Imagine spending a lazy afternoon with your feet practically in the Mediterranean, watching boats drift past while someone brings you another cold drink.
It’s a thoroughly civilised arrangement.
And when the family gets bored of sitting around doing absolutely nothing, there’s a dedicated garage for jet skis. Because apparently, having an 88-foot luxury catamaran isn’t quite enough. You also need smaller, considerably noisier machines to launch from the back of it.
I rather approve.
Plenty of Space to Enjoy the Mediterranean
The outdoor areas are where a yacht like this really starts to make sense. There’s ample room for sun loungers, entertaining guests, a bit of exercise, or simply sitting in the shade and wondering why anyone voluntarily spends August in a crowded European city.
Above it all sits the flybridge, one of the most desirable spots on any large yacht. Elevated above the main deck, it offers panoramic views of the coastline and enough space to enjoy long afternoons at sea without feeling as though you’re sharing a swimming pool with half the population of Monaco.
For Messi, his wife Antonela, and their three children, this should make the ULTIMA 88 an exceptionally pleasant family escape.
And the Balearics are practically made for this sort of thing. One minute you’re anchored in a quiet bay with nothing around but pine-covered cliffs, and the next you’re heading towards a little seaside restaurant where the fish was still swimming an hour earlier.
That’s the beauty of having your own yacht. The itinerary is whatever you fancy that morning.
Two Engines, 2,000 Horsepower, and a Rather Serious Turn of Speed
Now we get to the interesting bit.
Beneath the ULTIMA 88’s sleek exterior are two 1,000-horsepower engines, giving the yacht a combined output of 2,000 horsepower. That’s an enormous amount of power for something designed to carry a family, several guests, and what is essentially a luxury apartment across the sea.
For perspective, that’s more horsepower than three Lamborghini Revuelto supercars combined would have? Actually, those three would have rather more. But two would be almost exactly on the money, which is still a ridiculous amount of mechanical muscle for a floating holiday home.
Of course, yachts are rather different from supercars. There’s considerably more weight to shift, water creates tremendous resistance, and nobody particularly wants their champagne to end up on the ceiling every time the captain touches the throttles.
Still, those twin engines should give the ULTIMA 88 the performance and manoeuvrability that Sunreef’s ULTIMA range was designed to deliver.
The yacht also has a streamlined, contemporary profile that looks considerably more purposeful than the towering, wedding-cake designs you sometimes see parked outside the casinos of Monte Carlo.
It’s sleek, low, and rather handsome. For a vessel of this size, that’s quite an achievement.
Messi Joins the Sunreef Family
Messi himself seems rather pleased with the purchase, which is understandable. He described joining the Sunreef family as a real pleasure and explained that spending time at sea has always been something he and his family enjoy whenever they get the opportunity.
He also praised the company’s style and features, saying they suit exactly what he’s looking for in a yacht.
It’s a sensible choice, really. Sunreef has developed a reputation for combining extravagant interiors with innovative layouts and the sort of outdoor spaces that make traditional monohull yachts feel a little cramped.
The company has also attracted an impressive collection of high-profile athletes over the years. There seems to be something about reaching the very top of professional sport that makes an enormous private yacht suddenly feel like an essential household appliance.
And in fairness, if you’ve spent two decades being recognised everywhere you go, the ability to sail off into the distance whenever you fancy must be priceless.
The Ultimate Way to Spend a Day Off
There are plenty of expensive things a footballer can buy. Supercars, enormous houses, watches that cost more than a small village. Messi has certainly earned the right to indulge in a few luxuries after a career that has produced just about every trophy worth winning.
But there’s something particularly appealing about a yacht.
You can wake up somewhere different every morning, explore a hidden cove before the tourist boats arrive, spend an afternoon swimming with your children, and finish the day with dinner under the stars. All without worrying about hotel check-ins, restaurant reservations, or whether somebody at the next table is about to ask for a selfie.
Messi’s Sunreef ULTIMA 88 promises to make all of that rather effortless.
There’s no announced delivery date yet, and Sunreef hasn’t disclosed how much the football legend is paying for his new toy. Given the size, engineering, and level of customisation involved, it’s safe to assume the invoice will contain a rather impressive number of zeros.
Then again, when you’re Lionel Messi, that’s probably the least interesting part of the whole affair.
The real luxury is being able to drop anchor in a beautiful Mediterranean bay, switch off your phone, and spend an entire afternoon with absolutely nowhere else you need to be.
Preferably with 2,000 horsepower waiting downstairs, just in case you change your mind.
