Sunreef has reeled in another star athlete.

Soccer great Lionel Messi has ordered a new Ultima 88 catamaran from the Polish shipyard, joining a growing list of high-profile clients that includes tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso, and retired F1 racer Nico Rosberg.

“It’s a real pleasure to join the Sunreef family,” Messi said in a statement. “My family and I have always loved spending time at sea whenever we get the chance.”

First unveiled as a concept in 2023, the 88-foot model is positioned at the upper end of the six-strong Ultima range. It combines the elegance of a monohull with the space, stability and comfort of a multihull. The first unit was launched this past April, with several hulls currently in build.

Messi intends to add the 88 Ultima to the new MIM Ocean charter fleet he is building in partnership with Med Cat Yachts. It currently includes three smaller multihulls by Catana Group’s Bali Catamarans, making the Sunreef a true outlier. The Argentinian athlete also plans to use the cat himself.

“Sunreef Yachts have the style and features I really like, and they’re a perfect fit for what I’m looking for,” Messi adds. “I’m really looking forward to experiencing the Ultima 88 and enjoying it with my family.”

The cat can comfortably accommodate the footballer and his crew, with a generous layout that includes a full-beam primary suite and four guest cabins. Expansive exterior decks and a generous flybridge create space for entertaining, relaxing, or even exercising in the great outdoors.

At the stern, the line’s signature ocean lounge is fitted with fold-out terraces that open to create an expansive waterside area for lounging or watersports. Nearby, a dedicated Jet Ski garage can hold WaveRunners and the like.

The 88 Ultima can be equipped with a traditional diesel propulsion system or a hybrid setup that curbs emissions. It can also be outfitted with a “solar skin” that can generate clean, green energy from the sun. Messi’s example will pack twin 1,000 hp engines and will provide “a perfect combination of speed and maneuverability,” Sunreef says.

The cat is currently under construction at Sunreef’s state-of-the-art shipyard in the UAE. Alcaraz has also ordered an 88 Ultima and is awaiting delivery.

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  Rachel Cormack

  Digital Editor

  Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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