THROWBACK: When Lionel Messi sent a signed gift for MS Dhoni's daughter Ziva
In December 2022, Lionel Messi sent a souvenir with a personal message to Ziva Dhoni, immediately captivating fans everywhere. At seven years old, Ziva posed proudly with the memento, pointing at Messi's inscription and signature. The gesture truly brought into focus MS Dhoni's well-known love for football and introduced Ziva as a budding fan of the sport.
Now, in June 2025, that moment feels even more significant after Messi and Dhoni recently appeared together in a popular advertisement. Here's what happened back then.
What did Ziva Dhoni receive from Lionel Messi?
Messi had celebrated Argentina's World Cup win by extending his joy beyond the field in late December 2022. He sent a signed Argentina jersey with a personal note saying 'Para Ziva,' meaning 'For Ziva.' The gift was shared on Ziva's official Instagram (managed by her parents) with the caption 'Like father, like daughter.'
The jersey had arrived just days after Argentina's victory over France. For Ziva, it was more than a jersey. It was an introduction to football fandom inherited from her father. At the time, First Post had noted that the photo quickly gathered over two hundred thousand likes. Today, the post sits at over a million.
Ziva's fandom and Dhoni's football roots
Ziva's zest for the sport did not blossom overnight. It likely sprang from Dhoni's own passion for football, which runs quite deep. He once aspired to be a goalkeeper, and now co-owns Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League.
According to the cited source, Dhoni has trained with the squad and supports clubs like Manchester United. Ziva has clearly inherited this interest. Seeing her point at Messi's signature made it clear she follows in Dhoni's footsteps.
Jay Shah also received Messi's autograph
Ziva wasn't the only Indian recipient of Messi's generosity. Around the same time, the six-time Golden Boot winner also sent a signed jersey to BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
As reported by the mentioned publication, former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha posted a picture of Shah holding the autographed shirt, with 'GOAT sends his best wishes and signed match jersey for jay bhai!' written on it. Ojha even joked about hoping to get one for himself soon.
From a viral 2022 post to an on-screen collaboration in 2025
Though the jersey made waves in late 2022, Dhoni and Messi's association didn't end there. In April 2025, Dhoni and Messi appeared together in an advertisement for a popular chips brand. This video had amassed nearly a million likes within 24 hours. Fans watched the two legends share playful football moments as they passed the ball through screens across the world.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
WATCH: Sunil Gavaskar gestures Rishabh Pant to pull off hand spring celebration after 100 in 2nd innings vs ENG, batter says ‘later'
Ever since Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at Rishabh Pant with his 'stupid, stupid, stupid' rant during the Border Gavaskar Trophy, he has been in focus every time the Indian wicketkeeper-batter is in action. Although, there are no hard feelings between the two with the duo also starring in an ad together during the 2025 edition of IPL parodying Gavaskar's BGT outburst, the camera always pans towards the Indian legend when Pant is in the crease. Monday wasn't any different when the camera zeroed in on Gavaskar when Pant scored his second century of the match during the 1st Test between India and England. In a heartwarming moment, Gavaskar silently gestured Pant to do his hand spring celebration which Pant replied from the ground with a gesture of 'later'. On Saturday, a visibly enthusiastic Gavaskar on commentary said, 'Yes, superb, superb, superb. Absolutely terrific batting by the young man,' after Pant had scored his 1st innings century. With that 100, Pant went past MS Dhoni for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket. #INDvsENG2025 #RishabhPant Gavaskar asking for flip celebration — Sarcastic_sadhu (@SadhuSarcastic) June 23, 2025 In the match, opener KL Rahul and Pant struck fine centuries as India made merry in the post-lunch session to take their second-innings total to 298 for 4 against England on day four of the opening Test here on Monday. At tea break, Rahul was unbeaten on 120 (227 balls), while Pant smashed 118 off 140 deliveries as India overcame the early loss of skipper Shubman Gill (8 off 16 balls) to swell their overall lead to 304 runs. This was Rahul's ninth Test ton, while Pant — who had also scored a century in the first innings as well — now has eighth. The duo also shared a 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which became the cornerstone of a strong fightback following Gill's departure. Earlier, in the morning session, England exploited the liveliness in the pitch to trouble the India batters with pacer Brydon Carse getting rid of Gill for 8 runs.
News18
29 minutes ago
- News18
Prada Shows Kolhapuri-Like Sandals, But Indians Call Out The Lack Of Acknowledgement
Last Updated: At the Prada Men's Spring/Summer 2026 show in Milan, Indians spotted something familiar - a Kolhapuri style sandal. This has sparked a cultural appropriation debate online. Prada unveiled its Men's Spring/Summer 2026 collection at the Deposito of Fondazione Prada in Milan – a space known for its stark minimalism and architectural drama. Designed by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, the show was a characteristic blend of whimsy, futuristic tailoring, and cerebral aesthetics. Yet amid the conceptual silhouettes and fine tailoring, one accessory stole the spotlight: a distinctly familiar pair of sandals. Slim, skeletal, with a prominent toe ring and unmistakable tan leather- a classic Indian Kolhapuri style chappal made an unexpected cameo. Interestingly, this is not the first time Indian items have been used by the West in fashion. Popular fashion page Diet Sabya shared a video from the Prada show and talked about how this trend has been going on since time immemorial. They wrote, 'Chintz, cummerbunds, Nehru jackets. Turbans on international runways. Recently, the ludicrous 'Scandi Scarf' and 'Mandi Bag'! Along with a slew of remixes of Indian fits that had zero business being remixed. And now? The Kolhapuri?! Not to be that nagging aunty, but are we ready for a Prada Kolhapuri that'll cost us £1,000 a pair? And that'll be 'Fashion" because Europeans will suddenly start wearing it. Quite interesting if you think about it." Take a look at the post here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DietSabya® (@dietsabya) The Prada show invite also paid a subtle nod to the Kolhapuri. The invite included a tan-hued 'leather ring' which is a stark reminder of the signature Kolhapuri's toe-loop design. View this post on Instagram A post shared by STYLE NOT COM 🧢 (@stylenotcom) Talking about seeing the Kolhapuri on the global stage, Aprajita Toor – founder of her eponymous footwear brand- told News18: 'The Kolhapuri isn't just a shoe, it's a footprint of Indian heritage, handcrafted by generations of artisans. It's wonderful to see this iconic silhouette travel global runways, but even more vital that its cultural roots and creators are acknowledged. Fashion becomes more meaningful when it's grounded in history and gives credit where it's due. The applause must echo back to the artisans. The Kolhapuri is heritage, passed hand to hand, soul to sole." top videos View all While Prada has yet to reveal what it plans to call these sandals, many in India are voicing frustration over yet another instance of Indian design being lifted without due credit or cultural acknowledgement on social media platforms. One user wrote, 'I hope they call it Kolhapuris, instead of rebranding it as sandals. Everything Indian gets renamed." A second user noted, 'How easily brands take away the OG identity and think it's ok to do that…Guts." A third user said, 'Prada SS26 includes kolhapuri chappal, which originates from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India and is known for its intricate design and craftsmanship. Just like 'Scandinavian scarves', the Western fashion industry is ripping off Indian fashion again." The recent reinterpretation of dupattas as 'Scandinavian scarves", Indians fashion enthusiasts are taking note of this erasure. While borrowing from cultural archives is hardly new in high fashion, the line between inspiration and appropriation has grown increasingly fraught. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : fashion lifestyle Prada Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: June 23, 2025, 20:29 IST News lifestyle Prada Shows Kolhapuri-Like Sandals, But Indians Call Out The Lack Of Acknowledgement
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: 'This one is...' - Athiya Shetty posts emotional message as KL Rahul hits thrilling ton at Headingley
delivered a masterclass in patience and composure on Day 4 of the first Test at Headingley, notching up a vital century that anchored India's second innings against England. The 33-year-old stood tall once again, reaching 120 not out off 227 balls at the tea break as India pushed their lead past the 300-run mark. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rahul's innings came at a crucial juncture. After the early loss of captain Shubman Gill, he combined forces with vice-captain Rishabh Pant — who has been equally explosive in this Test — to steady the innings and frustrate England's bowlers on a surface that still had enough for the pacers. His shot selection and ability to wear down the attack ensured India remained firmly in control as Day 4 wore on. Off the field, Rahul's gritty knock drew a wave of admiration, none more heartfelt than from his wife, . The former Bollywood actress took to Instagram to share a simple but touching message that resonated widely among fans. Athiya Shetty's Instagram story for KL Rahul's century (Image via X/@athiyashetty) ' This one is special, ' wrote Athiya, who has over 4.7 million followers on the platform. She has often been a quiet pillar of support for Rahul, and her post celebrating his latest milestone quickly went viral. Poll Who played a more crucial role in India's innings? KL Rahul Rishabh Pant As Rahul looks to push India towards an unassailable lead going into the final day, his calm defiance at Headingley has once again underlined why he remains one of India's most reliable top-order batsmen in testing overseas conditions. Besides the right-handed batter, wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant also scored a century. His explosive 118 from 140 balls set the tone for India's solid innings.
