Why internet-breaking Ronaldo-Messi picture is more iconic than you think

In the internet-breaking picture, both stars pose next to each other playing a game of chess on a Louis Vuitton briefcase stacked onto a trunk from the very same brand.

As much as all the attention is currently being centred on the subjects of the photograph, here is why this photograph might be one of the most iconic of this generation.

Louis Vuitton: The brand being advertised for

According to the United Kingdom-based business website, Simpson Group, French fashion house Louis Vuitton reigns supreme in securing the spot as the world’s most valuable brand.

Louis Vuitton has dominated Forbes’ list over the years increasing its brand value by 17 per cent, taking it to $33.6 billion this year.

Louis Vuitton is part of the luxury French holding multinational corporation and conglomerate, Louis Vuitton Hennessey and Moet commonly known as LVMH.

This conglomerate is owned by French business magnate Bernard Arnault and it is no surprise it can affordably splurge lots of cash on having two of the world’s most coveted footballers come together for a singular advert.

Annie Leibovitz: The photographer

The icon photograph featuring Ronaldo and Messi was shot by celebrated 73-year-old American portrait photographer, Annie Leibovitz.

Annie Leibovitz has taken photographs of almost all major A-list celebrities in the world including Queen Elizabeth II, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jordan, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Donald Trump, etc.

Before the Queen’s death, she was the only non-English photographer to have ever been allowed an exclusive photoshoot with her.

The American Library of Congress declared Leibovitz a living legend and she is the first woman to have a feature exhibition at Washington’s National Portrait Gallery.

The subjects

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are living embodiments of unattainable greatness. Their competitive careers in football have been compared to those of Diego Maradona and Pele. These legends’ fame goes beyond the football profession as Ronaldo himself is the most followed human being on the internet.

In contemporary times, they are not only called the greatest of their generation but also, of all time.

Both subjects have always been rivals even when it comes to the kind of brand they endorse.

This fete to have them both featured in one picture is one never seen before.

The internet records

On Lionel Messi’s Instagram page, the photo has attained 27 million likes thus far while on Cristiano’s it has attained a staggering 35 million.

The current Guinness World Record holder for the most liked picture on the internet belongs to the photo of an egg, which has been liked by over 55 million people as of today.

However, internet analysts note that the pictures posted by Ronaldo and Messi might be on their way to breaking this record as Ronaldo’s photo alone has garnered over three-quarters of what the famous egg garnered in four years in just two days!

The Ronaldo-Messi picture has the most famous footballers alive, shot by the most famous photographer alive for the world’s most valuable fashion brand.