Lionel Messi Mixes Wine with Sprite—and Splits the Wine World

"I like wine, but sometimes I reach for my go-to: wine mixed with Sprite. It kicks in faster, haha." Lionel Messi, eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, ignited debates with this candid admission. In a TV interview with Luzu TV, the Argentine icon revealed he's a wine enthusiast who also enjoys blending red wine with this lemony soda. Messi admitted, with refreshing candor, that he values "the quick effect" of the mix. In his native Argentina, this combo even earns the nickname "Córdoba Champagne."